joek6 jin4 zi2 soeng6躍然紙上跃然纸上

Jyutpingjoek6 jin4 zi2 soeng6

Yaleyeuhk yìhn jí seuhng

Definition

Vividly portrayed; (of writing or drawing) extremely lifelike and standing vividly revealed on the paper.

writtendescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is reserved for high praise of artistic or literary talent, specifically when a description or illustration is so realistic that it seems to jump off the page. It is almost exclusively used in formal writing or sophisticated speech rather than casual daily conversation. Using it to describe a simple or mediocre drawing would sound sarcastic or overly dramatic.

Examples

keoi5佢se2寫go2嗰dyun6段miu4描se2寫joek3躍jin4然zi2紙soeng6上，hou2好ci5似喺hai2眼ngaan5前cin4咁。

His description is so vivid it feels like it is right in front of my eyes.

le1呢fuk1幅waa2畫jap6入min6面ge3嘅san4神taai3態joek3躍jin4然zi2紙soeng6上，zan1真hai6係hou2好ging6勁。

The expressions in this painting are so lifelike, it is truly impressive.

Common phrases

miu4描se2寫joek3躍jin4然zi2紙soeng6上

the description is vivid

jan4人mat2物joek3躍jin4然zi2紙soeng6上

the characters come to life on the page

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to describe real-life objects or people, but it is strictly limited to representations like text, paintings, or photographs. It cannot be used to describe a person standing in front of you.