# 拍案叫绝

pāi àn jiào jué

Express enthusiastic admiration

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Strike the table and exclaim in admiration

**Traditional Chinese:** 拍案叫絕

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe an especially enthusiastic response to something excellent.

The table action is often figurative; do not treat it as an instruction.

## The image & its use

A surprising turn in a story or a beautifully simple solution can bring an immediate expression of delight. This phrase pictures a person punctuating that admiration by touching the table and calling the result excellent. In writing, the action often serves as an emphatic image rather than a literal report. It suits a response to skill, ingenuity, or a striking performance. Mention what earned the reaction, so the enthusiasm tells the reader something specific about the achievement.

## Examples

这个巧妙的解法让老师拍案叫绝。

### Traditional Chinese

這個巧妙的解法讓老師拍案叫絕。

zhè ge qiǎo miào de jiě fǎ ràng lǎo shī pāi àn jiào jué 。

The ingenious solution earned the teacher's enthusiastic admiration.

读到精彩的结尾，她不禁拍案叫绝。

### Traditional Chinese

讀到精彩的結尾，她不禁拍案叫絕。

dú dào jīng cǎi de jié wěi ， tā bù jīn pāi àn jiào jué 。

She could not help expressing delight at the wonderful ending.

这段表演让观众拍案叫绝。

### Traditional Chinese

這段表演讓觀眾拍案叫絕。

zhè duàn biǎo yǎn ràng guān zhòng pāi àn jiào jué 。

The performance drew enthusiastic admiration from the audience.

他对模型精细的结构拍案叫绝。

### Traditional Chinese

他對模型精細的結構拍案叫絕。

tā duì mó xíng jīng xì de jié gòu pāi àn jiào jué 。

He expressed great admiration for the model's intricate structure.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1262&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8B%8D%E6%A1%88%E5%8F%AB%E7%B5%95)

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