此曲只应天上有

此曲只應天上有

cǐqǔzhǐyīngtiānshàngyǒu

phrase

Meanings

1 this music could only exist in heaven
2 (fig.) the highest possible praise for a piece of music, performance, or work of art
3 (lit.) this — song — only — should — heaven — upon — exist

Characters

upon (天上 = in heaven)

有

yǒu

to exist / have

Examples

听完独奏，他感叹此曲只应天上有。

Tīng wán dúzòu, tā gǎntàn cǐ qǔ zhǐ yìng tiān shàng yǒu.

After the solo, he sighed: 'this music could only exist in heaven.'

网友评论说此曲只应天上有，人间能得几回闻。

Wǎngyǒu pínglùn shuō cǐ qǔ zhǐ yìng tiān shàng yǒu, rénjiān néng dé jǐ huí wén.

The netizen commented: 'this tune belongs only in heaven — how often can the mortal world hear it?'

Tips

history

From 杜甫《赠花卿》 (Du Fu, Tang, 761), a poem praising (and subtly admonishing) the general 花敬定 for using imperial-grade music: 锦城丝管日纷纷，半入江风半入云。此曲只应天上有，人间能得几回闻 (In Brocade City strings and pipes drift day by day — half into river wind, half into clouds. This music should only exist in heaven — how often in the mortal world can it be heard?). Modern readers take it as unambiguous praise; Du Fu's original audience would have caught the double edge, since court music was technically off-limits to regional generals.

usage

Canonically paired with 人间能得几回闻. 只应 = classical 'ought only / should only,' not 'just respond.' The phrase is now one of the top-shelf compliments for music, used without a hint of the original irony.

Stroke Order

此 cǐ

曲 qǔ

只 zhǐ

应 yīng

天 tiān

上 shàng

有 yǒu