1.
finishing touch; final flourish
The crucial final touch that brings something to life or completes it perfectly.
このスピーチに画竜点睛を加える。
To add the finishing touch to this speech.
画竜点睛を欠く。
To lack the finishing touch (to be incomplete).
彼女の演技が映画の画竜点睛となった。
Her performance was the crowning touch of the film.
FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語):
画竜 (drawing a dragon) + 点睛 (dotting the eyes)
ORIGIN:
From a Chinese legend about a painter who painted dragons on a temple wall. The dragons came to life and flew away only after he painted their eyes—demonstrating that the final detail brings the whole work to life.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 画竜点睛を加える: to add the finishing touch
- 画竜点睛を欠く: to lack the finishing touch, to be almost but not quite complete
REGISTER:
Somewhat literary/formal; often used in writing or formal speech.