拍案叫绝
pāi àn jiào jué
to slap the table in admiration; to be struck with delight
Character by character
拍pāi
slap
slap
案àn
table
table
叫jiào
cry
cry
绝jué
superb
superb
Example
这部小说的结尾出人意料，读到最后一页，我忍不住拍案叫绝。
The novel’s ending is so unexpected that when I reached the last page I could not help crying out in admiration.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
The picture is of a reader at a desk or a listener in a teahouse so delighted that they slap the table and cry “superb!”. Now said of works, performances, ideas and clever solutions: 令人拍案叫绝, 让人拍案叫绝. Stronger than 叫好, and no table is needed.
Learn this in Lesson 239 · HSK 9+: 吴桥杂技 (The acrobats of Wuqiao)
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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