📖 Meaning
Originally refers to playing wind instruments and singing in a refined, artistic manner. By extension, it means repeatedly refining the rhythm, melody, and diction in the composition of poetry and lyrics.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Qing dynasty poet Nalan Xingde's ci poem 'Huan Xi Sha' (浣溪沙). The poem reads, 'Eighteen years I have lived fallen into this world, blowing flowers and chewing stamens while plucking the ice-string zither — to whom do I entrust these deep feelings?' The phrase '吹花嚼蕊' originally evokes the image of delicately playing music and singing. Over time it was extended metaphorically to describe the painstaking refinement of rhythm and literary language in poetry composition.
💡 Example Usage
余素不工词，吹花嚼蕊，嗣作遂多。
I had never been skilled at writing ci poetry, but after repeatedly refining rhythm and diction, my later compositions grew numerous.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 吹花嚼蕊
- Pinyin: chuī huā jiáo ruǐ
- Literal Translation: blow flowers, chew stamens
- Category: Skill
- Characters: 4