cát lầm ngọc trắng
Definition
- Idiom (figurative expression):
- "White jade buried in sand": A classical Vietnamese idiom describing a person of great virtue, talent, or beauty who is unrecognized, living in obscurity, or suffering in poor, unworthy circumstances. It conveys a sense of preciousness being hidden, wasted, or oppressed by a coarse environment.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Tài năng của anh ấy chưa được ai biết đến, đúng là cát lầm ngọc trắng. (His talent is unknown to anyone; it is truly a case of white jade buried in sand.)
- Câu chuyện về người phụ nữ cát lầm ngọc trắng ấy khiến nhiều người xúc động. (The story of that woman, a precious gem lost in the dust, moved many people.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is deeply rooted in classical Vietnamese literature, most famously used by poet Nguyễn Du in to describe the protagonist Thúy Kiều's tragic fate. Its usage often carries a literary, poetic, or lamenting tone.
- It can be used to describe not only people but also valuable ideas, works of art, or potential that is neglected or ruined by unfavorable conditions.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngọc nát còn hơn ngói lành (idiom): "Broken jade is still better than intact tile." This emphasizes that a noble person in distress is still superior to a common person in good condition, sharing a thematic link with "cát lầm ngọc trắng."
Synonyms
- A diamond in the rough: An individual with inherently excellent qualities or abilities, but lacking social polish or recognition.
- A hidden gem: Something or someone of great value that is not widely known or appreciated.
- Unrecognized genius: A person of extraordinary talent who receives no acclaim.
Related Idioms
- Hoa rơi hữu ý, nước chảy vô tình: "The flower falls with purpose, the water flows without feeling." Often used to describe unrequited love or tragic beauty, sharing the theme of preciousness (the flower/beauty) being lost or unappreciated.
- Tài hoa bạc mệnh: "Brilliant talent, thin fate." Describes a person of great talent who suffers a tragic destiny, closely related to the core meaning of "cát lầm ngọc trắng."