What’s a good English expression for the Chinese idiom “buying horse bones with much gold”...
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"千金买马骨” literally means buying horse bones with much gold.
This Chinese idiom comes from "Stratagems of the Warring States- Yan Dynasty" 《战国策·燕策一·燕昭王收破燕后即位》.
It is said that an ancient courtier bought a horse for the king, but only bought the bones of the dead horse, and the king was furious. The king didn’t understand.
The courtier explained to the confused king that if they see that the king has bought just the bones of the dead horse with so much gold, the people will think that the king is really fervent to find superb horses and is willing to pay handsomely. People will naturally bring their best horses to the door.
Pursuing a certain thing or a certain talent does not necessarily mean to catch up with it. But rather, one can work on the fundamentals like improving one’s own ability, quality and strength and good things will naturally come.
word-choice phrase-requests idiom-requests
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
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asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
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up vote
6
down vote
favorite
"千金买马骨” literally means buying horse bones with much gold.
This Chinese idiom comes from "Stratagems of the Warring States- Yan Dynasty" 《战国策·燕策一·燕昭王收破燕后即位》.
It is said that an ancient courtier bought a horse for the king, but only bought the bones of the dead horse, and the king was furious. The king didn’t understand.
The courtier explained to the confused king that if they see that the king has bought just the bones of the dead horse with so much gold, the people will think that the king is really fervent to find superb horses and is willing to pay handsomely. People will naturally bring their best horses to the door.
Pursuing a certain thing or a certain talent does not necessarily mean to catch up with it. But rather, one can work on the fundamentals like improving one’s own ability, quality and strength and good things will naturally come.
word-choice phrase-requests idiom-requests
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
"千金买马骨” literally means buying horse bones with much gold.
This Chinese idiom comes from "Stratagems of the Warring States- Yan Dynasty" 《战国策·燕策一·燕昭王收破燕后即位》.
It is said that an ancient courtier bought a horse for the king, but only bought the bones of the dead horse, and the king was furious. The king didn’t understand.
The courtier explained to the confused king that if they see that the king has bought just the bones of the dead horse with so much gold, the people will think that the king is really fervent to find superb horses and is willing to pay handsomely. People will naturally bring their best horses to the door.
Pursuing a certain thing or a certain talent does not necessarily mean to catch up with it. But rather, one can work on the fundamentals like improving one’s own ability, quality and strength and good things will naturally come.
word-choice phrase-requests idiom-requests
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"千金买马骨” literally means buying horse bones with much gold.
This Chinese idiom comes from "Stratagems of the Warring States- Yan Dynasty" 《战国策·燕策一·燕昭王收破燕后即位》.
It is said that an ancient courtier bought a horse for the king, but only bought the bones of the dead horse, and the king was furious. The king didn’t understand.
The courtier explained to the confused king that if they see that the king has bought just the bones of the dead horse with so much gold, the people will think that the king is really fervent to find superb horses and is willing to pay handsomely. People will naturally bring their best horses to the door.
Pursuing a certain thing or a certain talent does not necessarily mean to catch up with it. But rather, one can work on the fundamentals like improving one’s own ability, quality and strength and good things will naturally come.
word-choice phrase-requests idiom-requests
word-choice phrase-requests idiom-requests
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
edited 49 mins ago
Laurel
29.5k655104
29.5k655104
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
asked 7 hours ago
Lydia
311
311
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Lydia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago
add a comment |
Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago
Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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I think an idiom that is close is the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat," meaning that there's more than one way of accomplishing a goal. While this doesn't seem to have quite the same connotation as your phrase, I hope it's somewhat in the right direction.
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
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1 Answer
1
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votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
-1
down vote
I think an idiom that is close is the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat," meaning that there's more than one way of accomplishing a goal. While this doesn't seem to have quite the same connotation as your phrase, I hope it's somewhat in the right direction.
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
I think an idiom that is close is the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat," meaning that there's more than one way of accomplishing a goal. While this doesn't seem to have quite the same connotation as your phrase, I hope it's somewhat in the right direction.
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
I think an idiom that is close is the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat," meaning that there's more than one way of accomplishing a goal. While this doesn't seem to have quite the same connotation as your phrase, I hope it's somewhat in the right direction.
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
I think an idiom that is close is the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat," meaning that there's more than one way of accomplishing a goal. While this doesn't seem to have quite the same connotation as your phrase, I hope it's somewhat in the right direction.
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
answered 4 hours ago
user320872
293
293
add a comment |
add a comment |
Lydia is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Lydia is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Sorry, but I think posting Chinese here is a bit odd.
– Lambie
3 hours ago
I don’t understand the relevance of the last paragraph. It seems to be describing something completely different from the “courtier and the king” story above.
– Jim
56 mins ago
With requests to translate idioms from other languages, I think it’s helpful to provide the idiom in the original language. @Jim I think the last paragraph is the OP’s interpretation of the Chinese idiom, for which they are seeking an English equivalent. There’s probably been some measure of semantic drift between the original story and contemporary (?) usage.
– Lawrence
7 mins ago