value something poor because it's one's own; cherish one's own things
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to cherish something of little value because it is one's own; 'my broom is dear to me'
literaryOften used to express a sentimental attachment to one's own possessions, work, or creations, even if they are flawed or objectively not valuable. It can carry a tone of humility or self-deprecation.
Zhè这
fú幅
huà画
bù不
zěn怎
me么
yàng样
，
dàn但
wǒ我
bì敝
zhǒu帚
zì自
zhēn珍
，
yī一
zhí直
guà挂
zài在
kè客
tīng厅
。
This painting isn't great, but I cherish it because it's mine, and I've always hung it in the living room.
Tā他
xiě写
de的
shī诗
yě也
xǔ许
zhì稚
nèn嫩
，
dàn但
bì敝
zhǒu帚
zì自
zhēn珍
，
měi每
yī一
shǒu首
dōu都
zǐ仔
xì细
bǎo保
cún存
。
The poems he writes might be naive, but he treasures them as his own, carefully preserving every one.
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Lǎo老
shī师
píng评
yǔ语
shuō说
wǒ我
zhè这
piān篇
zuò作
wén文
shì是
“
bì敝
zhǒu帚
zì自
zhēn珍
”
，
ràng让
wǒ我
hěn很
cán惭
kuì愧
。
The teacher commented that my essay was a case of 'cherishing my own broom', which made me feel quite ashamed.