Romantic Mid-Autumn Sayings About the Moon | Language
Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with these idioms about the moon
中秋话月，花好月圆
It gave him much satisfaction to be surrounded by admirers, like stars crowding around the moon.
被这么多崇拜者众星捧月一样地簇拥着，他感到十分满足。
月满则亏，水满则溢 yuè mǎn zé kuī, shuǐ mǎn zé yì
Influenced by the “golden mean” principle (中庸之道) of Confucianism, Chinese people have traditionally appreciated moderation in all things. This idiom, originating from the Book of Changes, implies that once something reaches a certain extreme, it will develop in the opposite direction. It's often used to warn people that nothing good lasts forever:
Many chengyu reference both the moon and flowers, though they each have a different meaning. Some moon-and-flower chengyu are associated with romance. This one used to be a shorthand for classical literature, which often depicted nature themes, and for effete and sentimental writing in general. Now, it implies a romantic relationship:
She is too busy to have time for love.
This chengyu also refers to love affairs, as it describes an ideal location for romancing couples:
He spent all his time on love affairs, and didn’t prepare for the exam at all.
Tā guāng gùzhe huāqián yuèxià qùle, gēnběn méiyǒu zhǔnbèi kǎoshì.
他光顾着花前月下去了，根本没有准备考试。
Some chengyu invoke the moon and flowers to descibe stunning beauty:
Tā de huāróng yuèmào jiào wǒ yíjiàn qīngxīn.
她的花容月貌叫我一见倾心。
Sometimes, a woman is so beautiful that people don’t even feel that flowers or the moon deserve to be compared with her, hence this chengyu. The phrase “outshines the moon” is usually associated with the beauty Diao Chan from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, while “puts the flowers to shame” described Concubine Yang of the Tang dynasty, both of whom were among ancient China’s “four great beauties.”
Flowers and the moon can also invoke philosophical musings. This chengyu originally referred to elusive images or moods in poetry, but now describes a beautiful illusion.
Looking back, the glory and wealth of the past were just flowers in a mirror or the moon in water.
This phrase uses flowers and the moon to express contentment and happiness. It is mostly used as a complimentary wish for newly wed couples.
In the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival, while we are all contented and full of happiness, our whole family sits in the courtyard admiring the moon.
Zhōngqiū zhī yè, huāhǎo yuèyuán, wǒmen yì jiā rén zài yuànzǐ li shǎngyuè.
中秋之夜, 花好月圆, 我们一家人在院子里赏月。
Cover image from VCG
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