📖 Meaning
The signs of spring are waning; spring is coming to an end. It describes the scene in late spring when the season's vitality is fading away.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase comes from Li Yu (李煜), the last ruler of the Southern Tang dynasty, in his ci poem 'Lang Tao Sha' (浪淘沙). The famous line reads, 'Beyond the curtain, the rain murmurs; the feeling of spring is fading' (帘外雨潺潺，春意阑珊). Li Yu wrote this after his kingdom was conquered and he was taken captive to the Song capital. The waning spring serves as a metaphor for his sorrow over lost kingdom and fleeting glory.
💡 Example Usage
暮春时节，满园落花，春意阑珊，令人不禁生出几分惆怅。
In late spring, fallen petals fill the garden as the season wanes, evoking an undeniable touch of melancholy.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 春意阑珊
- Pinyin: chūn yì lán shān
- Literal Translation: spring, feeling, waning, fading
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4