What does "Diamond in the Rough" mean?

Hidden potential beneath unpolished exterior Seems ordinary but has hidden qualities.

Diamond in the Rough

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Hidden potential beneath unpolished exterior

粗糙外表下隐藏的潜力

Potencial oculto bajo un exterior sin pulir

磨かれていない外見の下に秘められた可能性

투박한 외면 아래 숨겨진 잠재력

Seems ordinary but has hidden qualities.

看起来普通但有隐藏的品质。

Parece corriente pero tiene cualidades ocultas.

普通に見えるが、隠れた素質がある。

평범해 보이지만 숨겨진 자질이 있는.

Examples

A diamond in the rough.
一颗未经雕琢的钻石
un diamante en bruto
原石のダイヤモンド
원석 같은 사람.

Pronunciation

/ˈdaɪmənd ɪn ðə rʌf/

Usage Guide

Context: potential

Tone: appreciative

✓ Do Say

A diamond in the rough
璞玉
un diamante en bruto
磨けば光る原石
원석 같은 사람

✗ Don't Say

Complimentary
赞美的话
Es un cumplido
褒め言葉
칭찬하는 표현

Common Mistakes

About hidden potential

Origin & History

From uncut diamonds.

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Aladdin

Regional notes: Universal.

Variations

Diamond in the rough