掌上明珠
zhǎng shàng míng zhū
a dearly loved daughter; the apple of one’s eye
Character by character
掌zhǎng
palm
palm
上shàng
on
on
明míng
bright
bright
珠zhū
pearl
pearl
Example
她是家里的独生女，从小就是父母的掌上明珠。
She is an only daughter and has been the apple of her parents’ eye since she was little.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Mostly of a daughter, sometimes of any much-loved child: 是…的掌上明珠, 把…当成掌上明珠. Warm, slightly literary.
Learn this in Lesson 43 · HSK 5–6: 坐月子与抓周 (A baby’s first year)
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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