買櫝還珠 mǎi dú huán zhū

DEFINITIONS

  1. to buy a wooden box and return the pearls inside
  2. to show poor judgment (idiom)

CHARACTERS

買 mǎi buy, purchase; bribe, persuade
櫝 dú cabinet, wardrobe; closet
還 huán still, yet, also, besides
珠 zhū
HSK 6
precious stone, gem, jewel, pearl