金龜婿

Chinese

FWOTD – 13 February 2017
golden turtle; turtle-shaped handle on a golden seal, or the golden seal itself husband; son-in-law
trad. (金龜婿) 金龜 婿
simp. (金龟婿) 金龟 婿
Literally: “golden-turtle husband”.

Etymology

金龜 (“golden turtle”) refers to the turtle emblem worn by medieval Tang Dynasty officials who were in the third rank or above. This word was probably first used in a poem by Li Shangyin [c. 813–858]; see below.

Pronunciation


Noun

金龜婿

  1. (figuratively) wealthy son-in-law or husband
    金龜婿 / 金龟婿   diào ge jīnguīxù   to angle for a rich husband or son-in-law
    無端金龜婿辜負早朝 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
    无端金龟婿辜负早朝 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
    From: Li Shangyin [c. 813–858], 《為有》 (Because)
    Wúduān jià dé jīnguīxù, gūfù xiāngqīn shì zǎocháo. [Pinyin]
    She chanced to be married to a Golden-Tortoise husband;
    How ungrateful he was, to leave the sweet quilt to attend court before break of day!
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