CHENGYU
津津有味(jīn jīn yǒu wèi)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, approving
- Source:
- 汉·王褒《洞箫赋》
MEANING
- Literal
- with rich, flowing flavor
- Figurative meaning
- with great relish; with keen interest
ORIGIN STORY
In his "Rhapsody on the Flute", the Han poet Wang Bao praises music whose "lingering note holds deep, rich flavor". The doubled 津津 — the juice of enjoyment — became the relish of eating or absorbing anything.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“with relish”
EXAMPLES
他津津有味地吃着妈妈做的菜。Tā jīn jīn yǒu wèi de chī zhe māma zuò de cài.HSK6
He eats his mother's cooking with great relish.
孩子们津津有味地听故事。Háizimen jīn jīn yǒu wèi de tīng gùshi.HSK6
The children drink in the story with keen delight.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It works for food and for absorbed interest (reading, listening) — not for drinks or music.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Tap a character to explore it
TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01