文质彬彬

文質彬彬

wénzhì-bīnbīn

idiom #50,753

Meanings

1 refined in manner; gentlemanly
2 having a balance of culture and substance

Characters

refinement; culture

substance; inner quality

elegantly balanced (reduplicated)

Examples

HSK 4

他戴着眼镜，看起来文质彬彬。

Tā dài zhe yǎnjìng, kànqǐlái wénzhìbīnbīn.

With his glasses on, he looks every bit the refined gentleman.

HSK 4

这位老师文质彬彬，深受学生喜爱。

Zhèwèi lǎoshī wénzhìbīnbīn, shēnshòu xuésheng xǐ'ài.

This teacher is cultivated and refined, and students love him.

HSK 7-9

别看他文质彬彬，其实很有胆量。

Biékàn tā wénzhìbīnbīn, qíshí hěn yǒu dǎnliàng.

Don't be fooled by his gentle manner - he's actually very brave.

Tips

history

From 《论语·雍也》: 质胜文则野，文胜质则史，文质彬彬，然后君子 - 'substance without refinement is crude; refinement without substance is fussy; when both are balanced, that is a gentleman.' Confucius's original definition of the 君子.

register

Usually positive: cultured, polite, well-groomed. Modern use often focuses on appearance (glasses, soft-spoken, bookish) rather than Confucius's deeper balance. Can also be used with a twist: 别看他文质彬彬 - 'don't let his scholarly look fool you.'

Stroke Order

文 wén

质 zhì

彬 bīn