Japanese

ちょうちゅうてんこく
Meaning: overly ornate technique in writing; petty literary craftsmanship
Part of Speech: Noun, Four-character idiom

Listen to pronunciation

Example

彼女の詩は美しいが、批評家は彫虫篆刻に陥って心に届かないと述べた。
Her poem was beautiful, but the critic said it got lost in decorative technique and failed to reach the heart.

Usage Notes

Used critically when fine technique or ornament overwhelms substance, especially in poetry or prose.

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