王牌 wángpái trump card
(card games) trump card; (figuratively) ace; star player; top performer; best asset; secret weapon
How to remember 王牌: 王 king + 牌 card = trump card.
Characters
How it is used
- An ace / top trump - one's best asset or star - 王牌飞行员 (wángpái fēixíngyuán) an ace pilot; 王牌节目 (wángpái jiémù) flagship show.
- From card games (the trump card) but almost always figurative: the strongest player, product, or bargaining chip.
- Attributive: 王牌+noun (王牌律师, star lawyer); close in feel to 'flagship' or 'trump card', stronger than mere 招牌 (zhāopái, signature).