完璧归赵
- Literal
- return the jade disc whole to the state of Zhao
- Figurative
- To return something to its rightful owner intact and unharmed; to fulfill a delicate mission without loss.
Where does 完璧归赵 come from?
During the Warring States period, the state of Zhao owned a famous jade disc, the 'He bi'. The powerful king of Qin offered fifteen cities in exchange, but Zhao feared handing over the jade and getting nothing. The envoy Lin Xiangru took the jade to Qin; seeing that the king had no real intention of ceding the cities, he cunningly reclaimed it, threatened to smash it against a pillar, and managed to send it back to Zhao intact.
Source (出处): 《史记》
How is 完璧归赵 used? Two examples
- 我借的相机一定完璧归赵，请你放心。
I'll return the camera I borrowed to you in perfect condition, don't worry.
- 这批文物经过专家修复，终于完璧归赵，回到了博物馆。
After being restored by experts, these relics were at last returned safe and sound to the museum.
In Wanyu, all 400 chengyu have audio on every sentence, and you can save them to your decks and review them with spaced repetition. Free.
