# 沧海遗珠

cāng hǎi yí zhū

Valuable talent or work remains overlooked

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A pearl left behind in the vast sea

**Traditional Chinese:** 滄海遺珠

**Register:** Appreciative · literary

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe an excellent person or item missed in selection.

Requires value overlooked, not every unsuccessful applicant.

## Understanding the expression

A pearl remains precious even when no one retrieves it from the sea. The expression applies that hidden value to talented people or fine work overlooked by a selection process or public attention. Modern use often appears in awards, hiring, and cultural discussion. It challenges the assumption that recognition captures every worthy candidate. The label should still be supported by qualities of the overlooked subject rather than simply disappointment that a favorite was not chosen.

## Examples

这位画家被认为是沧海遗珠。

### Traditional Chinese

這位畫家被認為是滄海遺珠。

zhè wèi huà jiā bèi rèn wéi shì cāng hǎi yí zhū 。

This painter is regarded as overlooked talent.

评选可能漏掉沧海遗珠。

### Traditional Chinese

評選可能漏掉滄海遺珠。

píng xuǎn kě néng lòu diào cāng hǎi yí zhū 。

The selection may miss valuable work.

她在小剧团发现了沧海遗珠。

### Traditional Chinese

她在小劇團發現了滄海遺珠。

tā zài xiǎo jù tuán fā xiàn le cāng hǎi yí zhū 。

She discovered overlooked talent in a small troupe.

这篇未获奖的小说堪称沧海遗珠。

### Traditional Chinese

這篇未獲獎的小說堪稱滄海遺珠。

zhè piān wèi huò jiǎng de xiǎo shuō kān chēng cāng hǎi yí zhū 。

This unawarded story is an overlooked gem.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%BB%84%E6%B5%B7%E9%81%BA%E7%8F%A0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=344&webMd=1&la=0)

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