joeng4 ceon1 baak6 syut3陽春白雪阳春白雪

Jyutpingjoeng4 ceon1 baak6 syut3

Yaleyèuhng chēun baahk syut

Definition

Highbrow art and literature that is refined and sophisticated.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Originally referring to refined music from the Warring States period, this idiom is now used to describe art, literature, or tastes that are too sophisticated for the average person to appreciate. It is often contrasted with 下里巴人, which represents popular or vulgar entertainment. People use it with a slightly self-deprecating or sarcastic tone when admitting they find something too intellectual or inaccessible.

Examples

ni1呢di1啲gam3咁joeng4陽ceon1春baak6白syut3雪ge3嘅ngai6藝seot6術，ngo5我zan1真hai6係sik1識tiu4條tit3鐵me1咩。

I really don't understand this kind of highbrow art at all.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得le1呢tou3套hei3戲syun3算m4唔syun3算hai6係joeng4陽ceon1春baak6白syut3雪？

Do you think this movie counts as highbrow art?

Common phrases

joeng4陽ceon1春baak6白syut3雪ge3嘅ngai6藝seot6術

highbrow art

joeng4陽ceon1春baak6白syut3雪ge3嘅man4文hok6學

highbrow literature

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe something simply high-quality or expensive. It specifically refers to the intellectual or artistic level of the content, implying that it is beyond the reach of the general public.