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48.十部 perfect; many


十ten全complete十ten美perfect

In the Zhou Dynasty, a doctor’s payment was based the cure rate of his patients. If ten of his patients all recovered from their illnesses, then the doctor would get level-one payment. If, however, only nine or eight out of ten were cured, then the doctor would receive a level two payment, and so on. Later, 十全十美began to be used to describe a perfect situation. It is similar to the English expression: the peak of perfection.

【拼音】shí quán shí měi

【解释】十分完美,毫无欠缺。

【出处】《周礼·天官冢宰下·医师》:岁终,则稽其医事,以制其事,十全为上,十失一次之。

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