引玉之磚 yǐn yù zhī zhuān

fig. a modest suggestion intended to prompt others to come forward with better ideas

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. a modest suggestion intended to prompt others to come forward with better ideas
  2. 2. lit. a brick thrown to prompt others to produce a jade (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
引 yǐn HSK 4
to lead; to guide; to attract
玉 yù HSK 5
jade
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
磚 zhuān
brick; variant of 磚zhuān; variant of 甎zhuān