Chinese idiom · 成语
抛砖引玉
Meaning
To toss a brick to draw jade; to offer something modest to elicit brilliance.
Character by character
Origin and story
Chan anecdoteAn early occurrence is preserved in the Jingde Chuandeng Lu (景德傳燈錄), volume 10, a Song compilation of Chan teachings. The master Zhaozhou Congshen announces at an evening gathering that he will answer questions. A monk comes forward and bows. Zhaozhou remarks that he had thrown out a brick hoping to draw jade, but had received an unbaked brick instead. The brief exchange does not explain precisely why the bow prompted this reply.
The contrast between an ordinary brick and precious jade became a modest way to introduce one’s own contribution: it is offered to encourage something better from others. The emphasis in modern conversation is an invitation to contribute, not a literal exchange of valuables.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
我先画个简单的草图，算是抛砖引玉，大家可以在上面继续改。
I'll start with a simple sketch to get the ideas flowing; everyone can keep improving it.
A modest description of your own opening contribution; avoid calling someone else's work the brick.