Dou is a measurement for volume used in traditional Chinese society that equals to around 10 liters. Xuefu wuche學富五車 [books can filled up five carriages] and caigao badou 才高八斗 [talents are as many as eight decaliters] are two idioms to describe someone who is extremely talented. Xuefu wuche is originally from Zhuangzi, when the Warring time philosopher Zhuangzi once described another philosopher Hui Shi as knowledgeable because his books were so many that could fill up five carriages. Caigao badou is originally from a fifth century miscellaneous book Shi changtan 釋常談, where the famous poet-prince Cao Zhi 曹植 (192-232) was said to have eight out of ten talent among all the people under the heaven. Later, these two words become general terms when claiming someone to be talented.
Language and Culture Center (LCC) at Duke Kunshan University
