# 如数家珍

rú shǔ jiā zhēn

Discuss something with intimate familiarity

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** As if counting one's household treasures

**Traditional Chinese:** 如數家珍

**Register:** Positive · general

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

## When to use it

Describe fluent detailed knowledge of a subject.

It concerns familiarity, not necessarily boasting or ownership.

## Understanding the expression

People tend to know their own treasured possessions in detail. The expression compares that easy familiarity to someone's knowledge of books, local history, recipes, or another subject. They can name and explain particulars without struggling to recall them. Actual ownership is not required. It often describes enthusiastic conversation, but the main point is depth of familiarity rather than the desire to display superiority or overwhelm the listener.

## Examples

他谈起老电影如数家珍。

### Traditional Chinese

他談起老電影如數家珍。

tā tán qǐ lǎo diàn yǐng rú shǔ jiā zhēn 。

He discusses old films with intimate knowledge.

她介绍街区历史，如数家珍。

### Traditional Chinese

她介紹街區歷史，如數家珍。

tā jiè shào jiē qū lì shǐ ， rú shǔ jiā zhēn 。

She describes the neighborhood's history with detailed familiarity.

爷爷说起各种木材如数家珍。

### Traditional Chinese

爺爺說起各種木材如數家珍。

yé ye shuō qǐ gè zhǒng mù cái rú shǔ jiā zhēn 。

Grandpa knows all the different woods intimately.

球迷对历届比赛如数家珍。

### Traditional Chinese

球迷對歷屆比賽如數家珍。

qiú mí duì lì jiè bǐ sài rú shǔ jiā zhēn 。

The fan knows past tournaments in great detail.

## 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=%E5%A6%82%E6%95%B8%E5%AE%B6%E7%8F%8D)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=453&webMd=1&la=0)

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