Definition
金龟 literally means 'golden tortoise,' but it's not the everyday word for tortoise (that's 乌龟). Historically, it refers to a golden tortoise emblem worn by Tang Dynasty officials as a badge of rank. In modern Chinese, you mostly encounter 金龟 in the idiom 金龟婿 (jīn guī xù), meaning 'ideal wealthy husband' — a cultural reference to a 'golden turtle son-in-law'. The word itself is rare outside this idiom.
n.
golden tortoise (historical emblem of office in Tang Dynasty)golden tortoise (used in the idiom 金龟婿 for an ideal wealthy husband)
Examples
- 金龟。Tángdài guānyuán pèidài jīn guī zuòwéi guānjiē de xiàngzhēng.Tang officials wore golden tortoises as symbols of official rank.
- 金龟,。Tā zhǎo le yí gè jīn guī xù, dàjiā dōu xiànmù tā.She found a wealthy husband, and everyone envies her.
- 金龟。Bówùguǎn lǐ chénliè zhe yí jiàn Tángdài de jīn guī.The museum displays a Tang Dynasty golden tortoise.
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