📖 Meaning
White face and red lips. Used to describe someone with a fair, handsome appearance, often a young man of refined and delicate beauty. It can also apply to feminine or youthful facial features.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in Chapter 7 of the Qing dynasty novel Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin, where it is used to describe the young character Qin Zhong. The narrator compares him to Baoyu, noting his clear brows, bright eyes, powdered face and red lips, and graceful bearing. The expression vividly captures the delicate, refined beauty valued in classical Chinese literature.
💡 Example Usage
戏台上的小生粉面朱唇，一出场便引得满堂喝彩。
The young male role on stage, with his fair face and red lips, drew thunderous applause the moment he appeared.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 粉面朱唇
- Pinyin: fěn miàn zhū chún
- Literal Translation: powdered face, vermilion lips
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4