Recently, during the US President's visit to China, the Chinese-speaking community was fixated on an unexpected detail: the Chinese leader's height. As you can see from these Google search suggestions, it is the number one related query! You might wonder: Is physical "height" really that important?
The term "身高" literally means "身體高度" (body height). The word "高度" can refer to the physical measurement from the bottom to the top of an object, such as the height of a person or a bookcase. It can also be used as an intensifier, like in "高度機密" (top secret / highly classified). However, sometimes it refers to a person's attitude, vision, or personal cultivation. The catch is, these traits are hard to see with the naked eye!
Today, let's learn an interesting idiom.
鶴立雞群
晉．戴逵〈竹林七賢論〉
嵇紹入洛，或謂王戎曰：「昨於稠人中始見嵇紹，昂昂然若野鶴之在雞群。」
"竹林七賢" (Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove ) were a group of scholars who emerged around 240 to 280 CE. The group consisted of seven renowned figures: 嵇康、阮籍、山濤、向秀、劉伶、阮咸、王戎. They earned this title because they often gathered in a bamboo grove in 山陽 (Place name) to drink, sing, and engage in philosophical debates, disregarding traditional social etiquette.
They were devoted followers of the philosophies of 老莊學說 (Laozi and Zhuangzi), advocating the idea of "越名教而任自然" (transcending societal norms to follow nature). They believed in breaking free from strict rituals and embracing tranquility and non-action. Their writings often exposed and satirized the hypocrisy of the ruling court.
Interestingly, the literati of traditional Chinese culture cared deeply about their appearance. The intellectuals of this particular dynasty were especially renowned for this. Having a fair complexion was highly trendy, so men applied face powder and scented themselves with incense. They didn't just want to look neat—they wanted to smell amazing, too!
Against this backdrop, 王戎, one of the 竹林七賢, praised 嵇紹 (the son of 嵇康, who is also one of the 竹林七賢) with these words: "Yesterday, I saw 嵇紹 in a crowd for the first time. His tall and imposing figure made him stand out exactly like a wild crane standing among a flock of chickens."
You might wonder: Does a person who manages their appearance well automatically possess good moral character?
《禮記．大學》 (The Book of Rites: Great Learning, written between approximately 300 BCE and 100 BCE) contains the following saying:
《禮記．大學》
「誠於中，形於外，故君子必慎其獨也。」
- 誠於中：Refers to true inner thoughts and moral character.
- 形於外： Refers to outward demeanor, words, and actions.
- The meaning of this sentence is: A person's genuine inner thoughts and personal growth will eventually be evident in their behavior and aura. These qualities cannot be faked in the long term. Therefore, a person of noble character, even when completely alone and unseen, will strictly be mindful of their inner thoughts and intentions (a concept known as "慎獨"(watchfulness over oneself when alone)).
With this belief, ancient Chinese literati truly believed that a person's outward appearance was a reflection of their inner heart. Over time, the idiom "鶴立雞群" evolved to describe someone whose appearance and talents are extraordinary, making them stand out from the crowd.
鶴 Crane
立 = 站立 Stand
雞 Chicken
群 Flock / Group
- 在學期間他就是位鶴立雞群的人物，現在成為一名世界知名的偶像，我並不意外。
Given that he was head and shoulders above the rest during his school years, it comes as no surprise to me that he is now a globally recognized idol.
Driven by this philosophy, traditional Chinese culture has a deep-seated fear of being "矮人一截".
矮 Short
人 Person (referring to others)
一 One
截 A section or a segment (a measure word used for counting things divided into parts).
人 Person (referring to others)
一 One
截 A section or a segment (a measure word used for counting things divided into parts).
This phrase doesn't just refer to falling short in physical height. It is often used metaphorically to describe falling behind or being inferior to others in various aspects, such as knowledge, family background, or social status.
The exact opposite of this phrase is "高人一等", where "等" means "level" or "grade." It means to be a cut above the rest.
For example, you might hear a TV advertisement say:
- 只要身高不矮人一截，各方面都會高人一等，請認明OO堂轉大人。
As long as you don't fall short in height, you will be a cut above the rest in every way. Be sure to choose OO Pharmacy's Growth Spurt formula! - "轉大人"is a traditional Chinese herbal formula believed to promote physical development and increase height.
Next, let's look at another expression similar to "鶴立雞群."
Similar Expressions: 獨占鰲頭
獨 = 獨自 Alone / Independently
占 = 佔據 To occupy / To take possession of
占 = 佔據 To occupy / To take possession of
鰲 A legendary creature
頭 Head
In Chinese legends, the 鰲 is a colossal mythological creature often depicted as a giant divine turtle or a beast with a dragon's head and a fish's body. It possesses immense strength. During the 唐 and 宋 dynasties (approximately 618-1279 CE), statues of this creature were placed in the center of the steps leading up to imperial palace gates for decoration.
The 科舉(Imperial Examination) was a civil service examination system in Imperial China. In the final stage of the exam, three candidates would remain, and the emperor would decide who would be ranked first. When his name was called as the top scorer, he stepped forward and stood alone on the head of the giant 鰲 carved into the central stone of the imperial stairway.
Therefore, the "鰲頭" became synonymous with the first-place position! Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for winning first place or taking the lead in any competition.
- 今年的演講比賽，依舊是他獨占鰲頭。
As expected, he claimed the top spot in this year's speech contest once again.
Special note: Be careful not to confuse the character "鰲" (a legendary creature) with "鱉" (soft-shelled turtle). These two characters look very similar!
Since it is a Taiwanese Hokkien proverb, let's take a listen to how it's actually pronounced.
- 龜 Turtle
- 笑 To laugh at / mock
- 鱉 Soft-shelled turtle
- 無尾 Having no tail
- 粗皮 Rough skin
Literal Meaning is: The turtle laughs at the soft-shelled turtle for not having a tail. The soft-shelled turtle laughs at the turtle for having rough skin.
This proverb describes a situation in which two people with similar flaws criticize each other. It is the perfect equivalent of the English idiom, "The pot calling the kettle black."
- 你說他懶惰？這不是龜笑鱉無尾嗎？
You are calling him lazy? Isn't that just the pot calling the kettle black?
I hope you found this useful! To master these words, make sure to check out the video above for native audio examples. Happy learning!
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