Xiùcai rénqíng, zhǐ bàn zhāng.

秀才人情紙半張。

Lit A scholar's [expressions of] feeling [are as light as] half a sheet of paper.

Fig Scholars are not rich and can only paint pictures or do calligraphy to present as gifts.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 1, Scene 2; xiùcáirénqíng, (lit) “scholars' feelings,” is used metaphorically as a set prhase meaning gifts from scholars (scrolls, paintings, etc.) and more generally, small gifts (usually books).]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY FEELINGS GIFTS PAINTINGS SCHOLARS xiùcáirénqíng Xīxiāng_Jì