画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい)

がりょうてんせい
noun, expression
finishing touch; final flourish
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(がりょうてんせい)を加(くわ)える。
To add the finishing touch to this speech.
画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい)を欠(か)く。
To lack the finishing touch (to be incomplete).
彼女(かのじょ)の演技(えんぎ)が映画(えいが)の画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい)となった。
Her performance was the crowning touch of the film.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)):
画竜(がりょう) (drawing a dragon) + 点睛(てんせい) (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(がりょうてんせい)を加(くわ)える: to add the finishing touch
  • 画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい)を欠(か)く: to lack the finishing touch, to be almost but not quite complete

REGISTER:
Somewhat literary/formal; often used in writing or formal speech.

general
Added 2026.1.17 12:42 · Revised 2026.6.14 0:21
06000/06116_garyoutensei