点石成金

點石成金

diǎnshí-chéngjīn

idiom #27,920

Meanings

1 to touch stone and turn it to gold
2 to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary
3 to turn crude writing into a literary gem

Characters

to touch; to dot; to point

to become; to succeed

Examples

HSK 5

好的导演能够点石成金，让普通演员发挥出色。

Hǎo de dǎoyǎn nénggòu diǎnshí-chéngjīn, ràng pǔtōng yǎnyuán fāhuī chūsè.

A great director can turn stone to gold, bringing out excellent performances from ordinary actors.

HSK 7-9

他的编辑能力真是点石成金，把平淡的文章变得精彩。

Tā de biānjí nénglì zhēnshì diǎnshí-chéngjīn, bǎ píngdàn de wénzhāng biàn de jīngcǎi.

His editing ability is truly like turning stone to gold - he transforms bland articles into brilliant pieces.

Tips

culture

This idiom refers to the Taoist legend of the immortal who could touch a stone and turn it to gold. It parallels the Western concept of the Midas touch or the philosopher's stone.

memory

点 (touch/point) + 石 (stone) + 成 (become) + 金 (gold) - touch stone, become gold. Alchemical and magical in imagery.

Stroke Order

点 diǎn

石 shí

成 chéng

金 jīn