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沉鱼落雁、闭月羞花……形容女子貌美的成语有哪些?

孔子学院 孔子学院 Confucius Institute 2022-06-03


沉鱼落雁、闭月羞花是对中国古代四大美人——西施、王昭君、貂蝉和杨玉环容貌之美的最高赞赏。人们总是不吝惜以最华丽的辞藻来形容美、记录美、歌颂美。形容女子貌美的成语有哪些?我们一起来看看吧~


“沉鱼落雁”, and “闭月羞花” are inspired by the four legendary beauties in ancient China, namely Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diaochan and Yang Yuhuan. Humans have lavished the most poetical language to describe, record, and laud the aesthetic feeling. Let’s take a look at the idioms depicting the beauties from different angles.



沉鱼落雁

Making Fish Sink and Flying Geese Alight


中国演员蒋勤勤

Chinese Actress Jiang Qinqin


 来源 

“沉鱼”是西施的代称。传说春秋时期的美女西施在河边浣纱,鱼儿见了她绝美的倒影,忘了游动而沉到河底。


“落雁”是昭君的代称。传说汉元帝选昭君与单于结亲,昭君在北去的路上奏起了悲凉的离别之曲。大雁听到美妙的琴声,见到如此美貌的女子,忘了飞行而跌落下来。



 Origin  

“Making Fish Sink” (or “chenyu” in transliteration) refers to Xi Shi. According to legend, when Xi Shi, a beautiful woman in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), was washing clothes in the river, the fish were so dazzled by her gorgeous reflection in the water that they forgot to swim and sank to the bottom.


“Making Flying Geese Alight” (or “luoyan” in transliteration) refers to Wang Zhaojun. Legend has it that Wang Zhaojun played a sad parting tune on her northward journey after being picked by the Emperor Yuan of Han for a peace-keeping marriage to a Chanyu, the chief of a northern tribe, Xiongnu. A flock of geese forgot to flap their wings and fell down to the ground on seeing such a beautiful woman playing the splendid music.


典故:“毛嫱、丽姬,人之所美也;鱼见之深入,鸟见之高飞,麋鹿见之决骤,四者孰知天下之正色哉。”(《庄子·齐物论》)

释义:使游鱼下沉,使飞雁跌落。形容女子容貌极美。

例句一个人如果心地不好,纵使有沉鱼落雁之貌,也不算是真正的美。


Allusion :“Mao Qiang and Li Ji are both known among the people for their beauty. On sight of them, fish would dive into the depth; birds would flit high into the sky, and elks would break into a trot in flight. Of the people, the fish, the birds and elks, who are to know true beauty in this world?” (Zhuangzi: Qiwu)

Explanation: The idiom literally means that a woman is so dazzlingly beautiful as to make the swimming fish sink and make flying geese alight.

Example:If a person is unkind at heart, even dazzling features won’t make her a true beauty.



闭月羞花

Outshining the Moon and Putting the Flowers to Shame


中国演员 陈红

Chinese Actress Chen Hong


 来源 

“闭月”是貂蝉的代称。传说貂蝉在后花园拜月时,忽然清风吹来,一块浮云将那皎洁的明月遮住。于是有了“貂蝉和月亮比美,月亮比不过,赶紧躲在云彩后面”一说。


“羞花”是杨玉环的代称。传说唐朝开元年间,杨玉环到花园赏花散心,她刚一摸花,花瓣立即收缩,绿叶卷起低下。于是有了“杨玉环和花比美,花儿都含羞低下了头”一说。


 Origin  

“Outshining the Moon” (or “biyue” in transliteration) refers to Diaochan. Legend has it that when Diaochan was worshiping the moon in the back garden, a breeze arose and dragged a chunk of cloud over the bright moon. Hence, there is the saying of “Diaochan putting the moon to shadow in beauty and sending it into hiding behind the clouds.”


“Putting the Flowers to Shame” (or “xiuhua” in transliteration) refers to Yang Yuhuan. Legend has it that during the Kaiyuan reign in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yang Yuhuan went to the garden to watch the flowers and relax. As soon as she touched the flowers, the petals immediately shrank, and the green leaves rolled up and drooped. Hence, there is the saying of “Yang Yuhuan making the flowers bow in shame with her beauty.”


典故:“引动这撩云拨雨心,想起那闭月羞花貌,撇的似绕朱门燕子寻巢。”(《误入桃源》)

释义:使月亮躲藏,使花朵害羞,形容女子容貌非常美丽。

例句:这位姑娘不但有闭月羞花的容貌,而且还颇有见识。


Allusion :“[She] stimulates the most flirtatious mood, reminds one of the most dazzling features, and stirs the greatest eagerness like swallows circling the red gate in search of their nest.” (Into Shangri-La by Mistake)

Explanation: The idiom literally means that a woman is so beautiful as to send the moon into hiding and put the flowers to shame.

Example:She is not only beautiful enough to eclipse the moon and put flowers to shame, but also quite knowledgeable.



除了沉鱼落雁、闭月羞花之外,还有哪些形容女子美貌的成语呢?一起来看看吧~


Apart from those two idioms, what else are there to describe a woman’s beauty? Let’s take a look!


倾国倾城

Beautiful Enough to Topple a City and a State


中国演员 温碧霞

Chinese Actress Wen Bixia


典故:“北方有佳人,绝世而独立。一顾倾人城,再顾倾人国。”(《汉书·外戚传》)

释义:使全城倾倒,形容女子容貌很美。

例句:她虽有倾国倾城的容貌,可惜红颜薄命、遇人不淑,一生都很坎坷。


Allusion:“In the north, there is a woman of unworldly beauty. She can cause the fall of a city with one look, and that of a state with two.” (Book of Han: Biography of In-Laws)

Explanation:This idiom literally means devastating beauty that inspires the admiration of the entire city.

Example:Despite her unmatched looks, she has unfortunately married the wrong man and led a hard life. 



国色天香

Rosy Peonies with Heavenly Fragrance


中国演员 刘晓庆

Chinese Actress Liu Xiaoqing


典故:“国色朝酣酒,天香夜染衣。”(《牡丹诗》)

释义:原是赞美牡丹色香俱佳,后常用来称赞女子仪态端庄、容貌美丽。

例句:公主果然国色天香,一出场便惊住了所有人。


Allusion:“In the north, there is a woman of unworldly beauty. She can cause the fall of a city with one look, and that of a state with two.” (Book of Han: Biography of In-Laws)

Explanation:The expression was originally used to praise the peony for its unrivaled color and fragrance, but later often used in praise of women with dignified manners and beautiful looks.

Example:The princess was truly beautiful, and she dazzled all those present with her appearance.



出水芙蓉

A Lotus Flower in Bloom


中国演员 刘亦菲

Chinese Actress Liu Yifei


典故:“谢诗如芙蓉出水,颜如错彩镂金。”(《诗品》)

释义:指刚开放的荷花,比喻诗文清新不俗,也形容天然艳丽的女子。

例句:这部电影里的女主角像出水芙蓉一样楚楚动人。


Allusion:“The poems of Xie Lingyun are fresh like a lotus flower coming into bloom, while those of Yan Yanzhi are ornate like ingeniously rendered artwork.” (Grades of Poem)

Explanation:The expression literally means newly opened lotus. It is used metaphorically to describe the unworldly freshness of poetry, as well as natural beauty of women.

Example:The heroine in this movie is as charming as a flesh lotus flower.



明眸皓齿

Clear Eyes and White Teeth


中国演员 李佳璘

Chinese Actress Li Jialin


典故:“丹唇外朗,皓齿内鲜,明眸善睐,靥辅承权。”(《洛神赋》)

释义:意思是明亮的眼睛,洁白的牙齿。形容女子容貌美丽。

例句:她生来明眸皓齿,是个十足的美人胚子。


Allusion:with full red lips, white teeth, bright eyes, and dimples complementing the cheekbones (Goddess Luo Rhapsody)

Explanation:Literally meaning “bright eyes and white teeth,” the expression is used to indicate beauty in women with delicate features.

Example:She was born with bright eyes and white teeth, and will bloom into an utter beauty.



如花似玉

Delicate as a Flower, Refined as a Precious Jade

中国演员 倪妮

Chinese Actress Ni Ni


典故:“彼其之子,美如英……彼其之子,美如玉。”(《诗经·魏风·汾沮洳》)

释义:像鲜花和美玉那样美好。形容女子容貌出众。

例句:转眼间,女儿已经长成一个如花似玉的大姑娘了。


Allusion:“Behold the boy of my heart, isn’t he fair like a flower in full bloom… Behold the boy of my heart, isn’t he refined as a jade piece?” (Book of Songs: The Airs of Wei)

Explanation:Literally meaning “delicate as a flower, refined as a precious jade,” the expression is used to describe women with outstanding appearance.

Example:Before I knew it, my daughter had grown into a big girl.



亭亭玉立

A Graceful Slender Figure


中国演员 杨紫

Chinese Actress Yang Zi


典故:“白云初见空中有五色物;稍近;变成一美妇人;去地数丈;亭亭而立。”(《北齐书·徐之才传》)

释义:形容女子体态修长美丽。

例句:舞台上这位亭亭玉立的姑娘是位不可多得的好歌手。


Allusion:“At first a five-color object loomed behind the chunk of white clouds; as it approached, it turned out to be a beautiful woman, standing several dozen feet above ground, in all her gracefulness.” (Book of Northern Qi: Biography of Xu Zhicai)

Explanation:The expression indicates the slender and graceful figure of women.

Example:The charming lady on the stage is a singer of rare talent.



楚楚动人

Moving One’s Tender Emotions

中国演员 陈晓旭

Chinese Actress Chen Xiaoxu



典故:“蜉蝣之羽,衣裳楚楚。”(《诗经·曹风·蜉蝣》)

释义:形容姿态娇柔秀美,惹人怜爱。

例句:身穿白裙在台上起舞的她显得楚楚动人。


Allusion:“The wings of the day flies are thin and transparent, like ethereal clothing of gauze.” (Book of Songs: Airs of Cao)

Explanation:The expression indicates a delicate and beautiful posture that arouses one’s tender emotions.

Example:She looks lovely while dancing on the stage in a white dress.



婀娜多姿

Curvaceous and Graceful


中国演员 王祖贤 张曼玉

Chinese Actress Wang Zuxian and Zhang Manyu



典故:“四角龙幡,婀娜多姿随风传。”(《孔雀东南飞》)

释义:姿态轻柔美好。

例句:她的水袖舞轻盈婉转、婀娜多姿,让人片刻也移不开视线。


Allusion:“The flag with dragon patterns fluttered gently in the wind.” (A Couple of Peacocks Flying Southeast)

Explanation:Indicating gentle and graceful posture.

Example:Her flowing sleeve dance is so lithe and graceful that it hurts to tear one’s eyes away. 



花容月貌

Flowery Appearance and Moon-like Looks

中国演员 赵丽颖

Chinese Actress Zhao Liying



典故:“那公主花容月貌,有二十分人才。”(《西游记》)

释义:像鲜花和月亮般的容貌。形容女子非常美丽。

例句:这姑娘长得花容月貌,又有一副乐于助人的心肠,真是难得!


Allusion:“The princess is exceedingly beautiful, with unrivaled heavenly features.” (Journey to the Western Paradise)

Explanation:Literally meaning “flowery appearance and moon-like looks”, the expression is used to refer to exceedingly beautiful women.

Example:It’s a real find for such an exceedingly beautiful girl to have such alacrity to extend a helping hand!



天生丽质

Born Beauty

中国演员 佟丽娅

Chinese Actress Tong Liya


典故:“天生丽质难自弃,一朝选在君王侧。”(《长恨歌》)

释义:形容女子生来就貌美。

例句:她的美属于天生丽质,不用化妆就很美丽。


Allusion: “Endowed with natural beauty too hard to hide, one day she stood selected for the monarch's side.” (The Everlasting Regret)

Explanation:Indicating women who are born beautiful.

Example:Her beauty is natural-born, and she doesn’t have to bother with makeup.




这些成语你学会了吗?试着用起来吧~


How do you like those idiomatic expressions? Try and practice them in your daily life.



往期精选

1

“千金”是一千两黄金吗?

2

东郭先生、南郭先生、北郭先生,到底有几个“郭先生”?


内容编辑:吴晓静 刘希 陈芳宇(实习)

美术编辑:陈芳宇(实习)

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