高山流水 gāo shān liú shuǐ High mountain, flowing water

Explanation

比喻知音,也比喻乐曲高妙。

Metaphor for bosom friends or exquisite music.

Origin Story

春秋时期,晋国有个叫伯牙的音乐家,他擅长弹琴。一次,他在钟子期家做客。伯牙弹奏了一曲,钟子期听后赞叹说:“这曲子真好啊,像巍峨的高山!”接着,伯牙又弹奏了一曲,钟子期又说:“这曲子真妙啊,像奔腾的江河!”伯牙十分惊喜,因为他弹奏的曲子别人都不懂,只有钟子期能听懂他的心声,他俩从此成了知己。后来,钟子期去世了,伯牙悲痛欲绝,摔碎了他的琴,再也不弹琴了,以示对知音的悼念。

chūnqiū shíqī, jìn guó yǒu ge jiào bóyá de yīnyuè jiā, tā shàncháng tán qín. yīcì, tā zài zhōng zǐqí jiā zuò kè. bóyá tánzòu le yī qǔ, zhōng zǐqí tīng hòu zàntàn shuō:“zhè qǔzi zhēn hǎo a, xiàng wēi'é de gāoshān!”jiēzhe, bóyá yòu tánzòu le yī qǔ, zhōng zǐqí yòu shuō:“zhè qǔzi zhēn miào a, xiàng bēnténg de jiānghé!”bóyá shífēn jīngxǐ, yīnwèi tā tánzòu de qǔzi biéren dōu bù dǒng, zhǐyǒu zhōng zǐqí néng tīng dǒng tā de xīnshēng, tā liǎ cóngcǐ chéngle zhījǐ. hòulái, zhōng zǐqí qùshì le, bóyá bēitòng yùjué, shuāisuì le tā de qín, zài yě bù tán qín le, yǐ shì duì zhīyīn de dàoniàn.

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a musician named Boya in the state of Jin, who was known for his exceptional skills in playing the zither. Once, while visiting Zhong Ziqi, he played a piece of music. Ziqi listened and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Like a majestic mountain!" After another piece, he praised, "Wonderful! Like a raging river!" Boya was deeply impressed, as he had finally found someone who truly understood his music and was on the same wavelength. They became the best of friends. After Ziqi's death, Boya was so distraught that he smashed his zither and never played again, to express his grief.

Usage

常用作宾语;比喻乐曲高妙,或比喻知音难觅。

cháng chòng zuò bīnyǔ; bǐ yù yuèqǔ gāomiào, huò bǐ yù zhīyīn nán mì

Often used as an object; a metaphor for exquisite music or the rarity of finding a kindred spirit.

Examples

  • 伯牙子期高山流水觅知音,千古佳话流传至今。

    bóyá zǐqí gāoshān liúshuǐ mì zhīyīn, qiānguǐ jiāhuà liúchuán zhìjīn

    The friendship between Boya and Ziqi, with their harmonious music, is a timeless tale.

  • 他们的合作堪称高山流水,珠联璧合。

    tāmen de hézuò kān chēng gāoshān liúshuǐ, zhūlián bìhé

    Their collaboration is as perfect as a mountain and a flowing stream, harmonious and complementary.