慧眼识珠
huì yǎn shí zhū
to have the discerning eye to spot real talent or a hidden treasure
Character by character
慧huì
wise
wise
眼yǎn
eye
eye
识shí
recognise
recognise
珠zhū
pearl
pearl
Example
当年是一位老编辑慧眼识珠，从一大堆来稿里发现了这位年轻作家。
It was an old editor with a discerning eye who discovered the young writer in a great pile of manuscripts.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
慧眼 is the Buddhist “eye of wisdom”; 珠 is a pearl. Said in praise of the person who spots the talent or value (an editor, a coach, a collector): 多亏他慧眼识珠. The talent or treasure spotted is the 珠; since the phrase praises the spotter, people rarely say it of themselves.
Learn this in Lesson 238 · HSK 9+: 拍卖与赝品 (Auctions and fakes)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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