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相得益彰

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: xiāng dé yì zhāng
  • English Translation: To complement each other and bring out the best in both
  • Idiom Composition: Mutually or each otherTo fit, suit, or match wellIncreasingly or even moreTo become clear, manifest, or prominent
  • Meaning: A situation where two people or things combine in a way that enhances the strengths and beauty of both, producing a result far superior to what either could achieve alone. It is a highly positive expression used to praise perfect pairings.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

相得益彰 contains the following nuances:

  • Emphasis on Synergy: It goes beyond just 'matching'; it focuses on the synergistic effect where A and B together create a value greater than the sum of their parts.
  • Mutual Relationship: The term implies an equal relationship where both sides exert a positive influence on each other, rather than one side simply helping the other.
  • Visual and Aesthetic Harmony: It is frequently used to describe visual beauty, such as in fashion, graphic design, or natural scenery.

3. Usage

相得益彰 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Fashion and Design: Used to praise the sense of style in combining clothing, accessories, or interior decor.
    • Example:这条红色的围巾和你的黑色大衣搭配在一起,真是相得益彰
      The red scarf and your black coat complement each other perfectly.)
  • Partnerships and Cooperation: Describes how the personalities or skills of two people (like business partners or a couple) mesh to achieve success.
    • Example:他们两人一个擅长策划,一个擅长执行,配合得相得益彰
      With one excelling at planning and the other at execution, the two of them bring out the best in each other.)
  • Cuisine and Flavors: Used when the combination of ingredients, sauces, or food and wine is exquisite.
    • Example:这道菜里的柠檬汁与海鲜的鲜味相得益彰
      The lemon juice and the seafood flavors in this dish enhance each other beautifully.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 古典音乐与这座古老的教堂相得益彰,营造出庄严的氛围。
    The classical music and this ancient church complement each other, creating a solemn atmosphere.
  2. 图文并茂的排版让文章的内容更加相得益彰
    The layout with both illustrations and text makes the article's content stand out even more.
  3. 现代科技与传统工艺在这款产品上相得益彰
    Modern technology and traditional craftsmanship bring out the best in each other in this product.
  4. 优秀的剧本加上演员精湛的演技,使得这部电影相得益彰
    The excellent script combined with the actors' superb performances made the movie truly shine.

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom comes from the 'Ode to the Wise Ruler Obtaining Worthy Ministers' (圣主得贤臣颂 / Shèng Zhǔ Dé Xián Chén Sòng) by the Western Han (西汉) scholar Wang Bao (王褒). It originally described how a wise emperor and his capable officials enhance each other's virtues and abilities.
  • Modern Evolution: While it was once reserved for political relationships between rulers and subjects, it is now a versatile term used for any successful combination in art, business, or daily life.
  • Orthography: In ancient texts, the character 彰 (zhāng) was sometimes written as 章 (zhāng), but the former is the standard form in modern Chinese.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

  • Similar Idioms:
    • 相辅相成 (xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng): To complement and supplement each other; emphasizes interdependence more than the resulting brilliance.
    • 锦上添花 (jǐn shàng tiān huā): Adding flowers to brocade; making something that is already good even better.
  • Opposite Idioms:
    • 相形见绌 (xiāng xíng jiàn chù): To pale in comparison; when one thing makes the flaws of another more obvious.
    • 两败俱伤 (liǎng bài jù shāng): Both sides suffer; a situation where a conflict results in loss for everyone involved.

6. Summary

相得益彰 (xiāng dé yì zhāng) is a positive idiom used when two elements work together to create a synergistic effect. Whether applied to fashion coordination, food pairings, or teamwork, it describes a '1+1 > 2' scenario where the combination makes both parts shine more brightly.

Idiom Essay

xiāng dé yì zhāng
相得益彰
Complementing Each Other Perfectly
zàizhè ge这个shì jiè世界shàngyǒu xiē有些dōng xī东西rú guǒ如果shìdān dú单独cún zài存在kě néng可能zhǐ shì只是pǔ pǔ tōng tōng普普通通dehǎo

In this world, some things might be just ordinary when they exist alone.

dàn shì但是yí dàn一旦tā men它们fàngzàiyì qǐ一起qí miào奇妙deshì qíng事情jiùfā shēng发生letā men它们bù jǐn不仅méi yǒu没有hù xiāng互相gān rǎo干扰fǎn ér反而yīn wèi因为duì fāng对方decún zài存在biàn dé变得gèng jiā更加chū sè出色le

However, once you put them together, something wonderful happens: they don't interfere with each other, but instead become even more outstanding because of the other's presence.

zhōng wén中文yǒuyí gè一个fēi cháng非常yōu yǎ优雅dechéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种hù xiāng互相chéng jiù成就deguān xì关系jiàoxiāng dé yì zhāng相得益彰

In Chinese, there is a very elegant idiom used specifically to describe this relationship of mutual achievement called 相得益彰.

zhè ge这个tīng qǐ lái听起来kě néng可能yǒu diǎn有点shū miàn书面dàndeyì si意思qí shí其实hěnzhí guān直观

This term might sound a bit formal, but its meaning is actually quite intuitive.

xiāng de相得yì si意思shìbǐ cǐ彼此pèi hé配合hěnmò qì默契shìgèng jiā更加zhāngshìxiǎn zhù显著míng xiǎn明显

相得 means to cooperate with great chemistry; 益 means even more; 彰 means prominent or obvious.

qǐ lái起来lǐ jiě理解jiù shì就是liǎngrénhuòliǎngjiànshì wù事物yīn wèi因为pèi hé配合hǎoshuāng fāng双方deyōu diǎn优点dōubiàn dé变得yuán lái原来gèngmíng xiǎn明显le

Understood together, it means that because two people or things cooperate well, the strengths of both become more apparent than before.

wǒ men我们láixiǎng xiàng想象jǐ gè几个huà miàn画面

Let's imagine a few scenes.

bǐ rú比如zàikàndiàn yǐng电影deshí hòu时候

For example, when watching a movie.

yí gè一个bēi shāng悲伤dejìng tóu镜头rú guǒ如果zhǐ shì只是huà miàn画面kě néng可能zhǐhuìjué de觉得nán guò难过

A sad shot might only make you feel sorrowful if it is just the visual.

dànrú guǒ如果zhè shí hòu这时候pèishàngyī duàn一段qià dào hǎo chù恰到好处dedà tí qín大提琴yīn yuè音乐nà zhǒng那种bēi shāng悲伤defēn wéi氛围shùn jiān瞬间jiùbèifàng dà放大le

But if it is paired with a perfectly timed cello piece, that sad atmosphere is instantly amplified.

huà miàn画面ràngyīn yuè音乐gèngyǒugù shì故事yīn yuè音乐rànghuà miàn画面gèngyǒugǎn rǎn lì感染力

The visuals give the music more story, and the music gives the visuals more emotional power.

zhèjiù shì就是xiāng dé yì zhāng相得益彰

This is 相得益彰.

zàibǐ rú比如chuān穿yī fú衣服

Another example is dressing up.

yī tiáo一条yán sè颜色xiān yàn鲜艳desī jīn丝巾rú guǒ如果dānkànkě néng可能tàicì yǎn刺眼yī jiàn一件shēn sè深色dedà yī大衣yòukě néng可能tàichén mèn沉闷

A brightly colored silk scarf might look too garish on its own, and a dark coat might look too dull.

dànrú guǒ如果tā men它们zàiyì qǐ一起shēn sè深色yā zhù压住lexiān yàn鲜艳defú zào浮躁xiān yàn鲜艳yòudǎ pò打破leshēn sè深色dechén mèn沉闷

But if you pair them together, the dark color calms the garishness of the bright color, and the brightness breaks the dullness of the dark color.

tā men它们bǐ cǐ彼此dōubiàn dé变得gènghǎo kàn好看le

They both become more beautiful.

xiāng dé yì zhāng相得益彰zhè ge这个zuìmí rén迷人dedì fāng地方zài yú在于nà ge那个——jiù shì就是gèng jiā更加

The most charming part of the phrase 相得益彰 lies in the character 益—which means even more.

gào sù告诉wǒ men我们zhēn zhèng真正depèi hé配合bú shì不是yī fāng一方xī shēng牺牲zì jǐ自己chèn tuō衬托lìngyī fāng一方bú shì不是liǎnggè rén个人biàn dé变得yī mú yī yàng一模一样

It tells us that true cooperation is not about one side sacrificing itself to set off the other, nor is it about two people becoming identical.

ér shì而是zàibǎo liú保留gè zì各自gè xìng个性detóng shí同时háinéngjī fā激发duì fāng对方deqián néng潜能

Rather, it is about stimulating each other's potential while retaining individual personalities.

wǒ men我们zàishēng huó生活zhōngxún zhǎo寻找hé zuò huǒ bàn合作伙伴huò zhě或者bù zhì布置fáng jiān房间dā pèi搭配měi shí美食qí shí其实dōushìzàixún zhǎo寻找zhè zhǒng这种gǎn jué感觉

When we look for partners in life, decorate a room, or pair food, we are actually looking for this feeling.

suǒ yǐ所以xià cì下次dāngfā xiàn发现liǎng yàng dōng xī两样东西fàngzàiyì qǐ一起chǎn shēng产生leyī zhǒng一种yī jiā yī一加一dà yú大于èrdeměi gǎn美感shíjiùkě yǐ可以yòngzhè ge这个

So, next time you find two things put together that create a beauty where one plus one is greater than two, you can use this term.

zàití xǐng提醒wǒ men我们zuì hǎo最好deguān xì关系bú shì不是hù xiāng互相zhē gài遮盖ér shì而是hù xiāng互相diǎn liàng点亮

It reminds us: the best relationship is not about covering each other up, but about lighting each other up.

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