锦上添花
- Literal
- to add flowers to the brocade
- Figurative
- To add a nice extra to something that was already good: a welcome improvement, but one that wasn't needed and changes nothing essential.
Where does 锦上添花 come from?
There is no anecdote behind it that can be stated with confidence, but the image is clear: 锦 is figured brocade, already woven with patterns and luxurious on its own, so embroidering flowers onto it serves no purpose. Hence the nuance: what gets added looks good, but nothing depended on it. That is why it often comes with a touch of reserve, granting the compliment while reminding you that the real work was already done.
How is 锦上添花 used? Two examples
- 能拿到奖学金当然是锦上添花，但我最看重的还是学到的东西。
Getting the scholarship is the icing on the cake, of course, but what I value most is what I learned.
- 这道菜本来就很香，撒点香菜算是锦上添花。
This dish already smells wonderful; a sprinkle of cilantro is a bonus that suits it beautifully.
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