Praise the Beautiful World of Idioms Part 3

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

In the Chinese context, idioms are a unique and rich form of language, often expressing rich meanings and emotions through short and imagery-rich phrases. Today, let's praise the beauty of the idiom world and explore two fascinating idioms: "闭月羞花" and "翩若惊鸿".

"闭月羞花" (bì yuè xiū huā)
In this idiom, "闭月" refers to the radiance of the moon, and "羞花" refers to flowers feeling shy in the moonlight. This idiom vividly describes the beauty of a woman's appearance, so stunning that even the moon feels ashamed and the flowers blush in comparison. It's not just a praise of outward beauty but also an acknowledgment of inner qualities. A woman described as "闭月羞花" possesses a beauty that shines闪耀(shǎnyào) not only externally but also reflects her inner radiance.

闪耀(shǎnyào) ,verb,shines

  1. The sun shines brightly in the sky. 
    太阳在天空中明亮地闪耀。 
    Tàiyáng zài tiānkōng zhōng míngliàng de shǎnyào.
  2. Her talent shines through her exquisite artwork. 
    她的才华通过她精致的艺术作品而闪耀出来。
    Tā de cáihuá tōngguò tā jīngzhì de yìshù zuòpǐn ér shǎnyào chūlái.

"翩若惊鸿" (piān ruò jīng hóng)
This idiom depicts a graceful and light movement, akin to a startled swan. "翩" refers to dancing, while "惊鸿" refers to a swan. This idiom is often used to describe a woman's graceful and elegant优雅(yōuyǎ) demeanor, akin to the flight of a swan on a lake. It's not just a praise of appearance but also a commendation of someone's graceful and dignified bearing.

优雅(yōuyǎ),adj,elegant

  1. She wore an elegant dress to the party. 
    她穿了一条优雅的连衣裙去参加派对。 
    Tā chuān le yī tiáo yōuyǎ de liányīqún qù cānjiā pàiduì.
  2. The ballroom was decorated with elegant chandeliers. 
    宴会厅装饰着优雅的吊灯。 
    Yànhuìtīng zhuāngshìzhe yōuyǎ de diàodēng.

Why Chinese people like these words?
Cultural Inheritance: Chinese traditional culture places great emphasis on literature and art, and idioms, as a unique form of language, carry rich cultural connotations and historical sedimentation. Therefore, people have a special affection and sentiment for idioms, liking to express emotions, praise beauty, and convey thoughts through idioms.
Vivid Imagery: Idioms often use vivid and imaginative expressions to describe complex emotions and situations with concise and rich imagery. This figurative expression style deeply attracts people's attention and resonates with them when reading or hearing these idioms.

  1. She is as graceful as a swan, making others feel ashamed of their own appearance. 
    她闭月羞花，使其他人对自己的外表感到羞愧。 
    Tā bì yuè xiū huā, shǐ qítā rén duì zìjǐ de wàibiǎo gǎndào xiūkuì.
  2. His dance moves are as elegant as a swan's flight, captivating everyone's attention. 
    他的舞姿翩若惊鸿，吸引了所有人的注意力。 
    Tā de wǔ zī piān ruò jīnghóng, xīyǐn le suǒyǒu rén de zhùyìlì.
  3. The beauty of the landscape is like a celestial maiden among the flowers, breathtakingly stunning. 
    风景之美，犹如闭月羞花，令人叹为观止。 
    Fēngjǐng zhī měi, yóu rú bì yuè xiū huā, lìngrén tàn wèi guānzhǐ.

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