CHENGYU
彬彬有礼(bīn bīn yǒu lǐ)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, approving
- Source:
- 《史记·太史公自序》
MEANING
- Literal
- refined and full of courtesy
- Figurative meaning
- polite and well-mannered
ORIGIN STORY
The Grand Historian's preface praises how ritual fixed by scholars "made learning and refinement flourish". 彬彬, the balance of substance and polish, grew a tail — courtesy — and became the gentleman's manner.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“courteous and refined”
EXAMPLES
服务员彬彬有礼地接待客人。Fúwùyuán bīn bīn yǒu lǐ de jiēdài kèrén.HSK6
The waiter receives the guests with polished courtesy.
他彬彬有礼，给人印象很好。Tā bīn bīn yǒu lǐ, gěi rén yìnxiàng hěn hǎo.HSK6
He is refined and courteous and leaves a fine impression.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is elegant politeness of manner — not shyness or formality alone.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01