noun
peach and plum
Literal meaning: peach and plum trees or their fruit. Often used in literary or poetic contexts.
庭に桃李が植えてある。
Peach and plum trees are planted in the garden.
noun
person of one's recommendation; protégé
Metaphorical use derived from the Chinese proverb 桃李もの言わざれども下自ら蹊を成す (peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path forms beneath them), referring to a person of virtue who naturally attracts followers or a recommended person. Rare and literary.
See also: 桃李もの言わざれども下自ら蹊を成す
彼は師の桃李として知られている。
He is known as his teacher's protégé.
「桃李もの言わざれども下自ら蹊を成す」
There is a proverb: 'Peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path forms beneath them.'
From Chinese 桃李 (táolǐ), literally 'peach and plum'. The metaphorical sense comes from a classical Chinese proverb.