Mastering Chinese Vocabulary: 瑕疵、白玉微瑕、瑕不掩瑜

 These three words look similar but have very different meanings. Let's learn how to distinguish between 瑕疵、白玉微瑕、瑕不掩瑜

瑕疵 Flaw or Blemish

• 解釋：The term is used to describe a flaw, an error, or a shortcoming that causes something to be imperfect or a blemish that mars its appearance.

• 例句：
• 皮膚上的小瑕疵，包括雀斑和疤痕。
• Skin blemishes that are minor in nature, including freckles and scars.
  
• 因為有瑕疵，所以我退掉那件衣服了。
• I returned the clothes because it was flawed.

白玉微瑕 (白璧微瑕)  Almost perfect

• 解釋：
  Its literal meaning is a tiny spot or flaw on white jade. Metaphorically, it describes something or someone that is nearly perfect but has a minor imperfection, causing a feeling of regret. It is also written as "白璧微瑕."
  (Both "玉" and "璧" mean jade. When the two 字 are combined to 詞: "玉璧", it specifically refers to jade of this shape )
  The antonym is "白玉無瑕" or "白璧無瑕." However, modern people mostly use "完美無瑕" (flawless) to describe "perfect" or "without mistakes."

• 例句：
• 他的表現很好，但還是有些小錯誤，白玉微瑕，還是給第二名吧。
• He performed well, but there were still minor errors, marred by a minor flaw, so let's give him second place.
• 做醫美是為了追求完美無瑕的膚質嗎？
• Are people getting cosmetic treatments to achieve flawless skin?

瑕不掩瑜 The flaw doesn't detract from the overall value

• 解釋：|
  瑕 refers to a flaw or spot on jade.
  瑜 refers to the luster or brilliance of jade. 
  "瑕不掩瑜"  is a metaphor meaning that even though something has minor defects, it does not diminish its overall perfection or excellence.

• 例句：
• 雖然他的表現白玉微瑕，卻瑕不掩瑜，我覺得給第一名實至名歸。
• His performance was nearly perfect, and the minor flaw didn't detract from his overall excellence. He deserves first place.
• 實至名歸 (well-deserved)
  It means that a person's reputation or fame is truly deserved because their achievements and genuine ability naturally correspond with the recognition. It suggests that true talent will inevitably gain the appropriate recognition, even if the person doesn't actively seek it. 
  

Thanks for reading! If you want to hear the correct pronunciation and intonation, don't forget to watch the video at the beginning of this post. See you next time!