📖 Meaning
The idiom refers to a beautiful young woman of sixteen years of age. '二八' (two times eight) equals sixteen, while '佳人' means a beautiful woman. It is used to describe a girl in her mid-teens who is exceptionally attractive.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a poem by the Northern Song Dynasty poet Su Shi (苏轼), titled '李铃辖座上分题戴花' (Composing on an Assigned Topic at Commander Li's Banquet: Wearing Flowers). The line reads '二八佳人细马驮，十千美酒渭城歌' — a sixteen-year-old beauty rides a fine horse, while fine wine worth ten thousand coins flows as songs are sung at Weicheng. Su Shi composed this impromptu piece at a banquet where poetry topics were assigned to the guests.
💡 Example Usage
舞会上那位二八佳人吸引了所有人的目光。
The sixteen-year-old beauty at the dance caught everyone's eyes.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 二八佳人
- Pinyin: èr bā jiā rén
- Literal Translation: two, eight, beautiful, person
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4