拋磚引玉 pāo zhuān yǐn yù

offer a humble idea to invite better ones

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to attract others' interest or suggestions by putting forward one's own modest ideas to get the ball rolling
  2. 2. lit. throw out a brick and get jade thrown back (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
拋 pāo
to throw; to toss; to fling
磚 zhuān
brick; variant of 磚zhuān; variant of 甎zhuān
引 yǐn HSK 4
to lead; to guide; to attract
玉 yù HSK 5
jade