Idioms Gallery
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Language Gallery by Sharon Hahn Darlin


Aug 5, 2008

錦上添花 icing on the cake

錦 (silk) 上 (atop) 添 (add) 花 (flower)

Definition of perfection never seems perfect.

"one that possesses that of which, by its nature, it is capable." - Thomas Aquinas

"that which lacks nothing and to which nothing can be added." - Daniele Barbaro

This is a big topic. Are we talking aesthetics, for instance? You shouldn't mess with your absolutely exquisite perfection, but if something you have the good fortune to appreciate appears to get even better with the addition of an accessory, more power to you.

***
Character
(flower)
has the grass top (=)

indicates the sound, which is hua or ka in many Asian languages.

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