江郎才尽 Jiang Lang Cai Jin
Explanation
江郎才尽，比喻才华日渐衰退。典故出自南朝梁文学家江淹的故事。江淹年轻时才华出众，但晚年却文思枯竭，作品乏善可陈。
Jiang Lang Cai Jin, meaning 'Jiang Lang's talent has dried up', is an idiom used to describe the gradual decline of someone's talent or creativity. It originates from the story of Jiang Yan, a Southern Liang Dynasty writer, who was brilliant in his youth but later struggled to create compelling works.
Origin Story
南朝梁时，江淹年轻时才华横溢，文采斐然，写下了许多传世佳作。他深受皇帝赏识，官至尚书。然而，随着时间的推移，江淹年事已高，他的才华似乎也逐渐消退。他晚年的作品与早年的辉煌相比，黯然失色，缺乏灵性。有人说，江淹在梦中丢失了五彩神笔，从此才思枯竭，再难写出令人惊艳的诗文。这个故事后来演变成成语“江郎才尽”，用来比喻人的才华逐渐衰退，再也创作不出优秀的作品。
During the Southern Liang Dynasty, Jiang Yan was a brilliant young writer known for his exceptional talent and numerous masterpieces. Highly regarded by the emperor, he rose to a high official position. However, as time passed, Jiang Yan's talent appeared to wane. His later works paled in comparison to his earlier achievements, lacking the brilliance and originality that once characterized his writing. Legend has it that Jiang Yan lost a magical five-colored brush in a dream, resulting in his creative dry spell. This story became the idiom “Jiang Lang Cai Jin,” symbolizing the gradual decline of someone's talent.
Usage
江郎才尽常用来形容人才能衰退，不再有创作灵感。多用于书面语，也可用于口语。
The idiom 'Jiang Lang Cai Jin' is often used to describe the decline of someone's talent and lack of creative inspiration. It's mostly used in formal writing but can also appear in spoken language.
Examples
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他年轻时才华横溢，如今却江郎才尽了。
ta nián qīng shí cái huá héng yì, rú jīn què jiāng láng cái jìn le
He was once a brilliant young writer, but now his talent has withered.
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这篇文章写得平淡无奇，真是江郎才尽。
zhè piān wén zhāng xiě de píng dàn wú qí, zhēn shì jiāng láng cái jìn
This article is dull and uninspired; a clear sign of depleted creativity