十全十美
shí quán shí měi
Absolute perfection
Absolute flawlessness and impeccable quality are conveyed by this idiom. It describes something or someone as entirely perfect, leaving no room for criticism or improvement.
What does 十全十美 (shí quán shí měi) mean?
十全十美 (shí quán shí měi) means "absolute perfection" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "ten complete, ten beautiful."
Character by character
- 十 shí ten
- 全 quán complete, whole
- 十 shí ten
- 美 měi beautiful, perfect
When to use it
Use this idiom to praise something as ideal and without any defects. It is also frequently used in negative contexts to emphasize that nothing in reality truly achieves such a high standard of perfection.
Example
每个人都不是十全十美的,都有自己的缺点。
Měige rén dōu búshì shí quán shí měi de, dōu yǒu zìjǐ de quēdiǎn.
No one is absolutely perfect; we all have our shortcomings.
Pro tip: The 'ten' in this idiom does not denote a literal count of ten specific aspects. Instead, it functions as an intensifier, conveying the sense of 'completely' or 'utterly' perfect in every conceivable way.
Related idioms
适得其反 · Producing opposite results实话实说 · Speaking the honest truth实事求是 · Seeking truth from facts
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