📖 Meaning
A four-character idiom describing fine, pleasant weather with gentle breeze and bright sunshine. It is commonly used to set a cheerful, idyllic scene in writing or speech, and can also metaphorically describe a favorable situation or harmonious atmosphere.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom emerged as a natural descriptive compound in classical Chinese literature, with early attestations found in Ming and Qing dynasty works such as Wu Jianren's 《二十年目睹之怪现状》 (1903–1905). Unlike many chengyu, it does not derive from a single historical anecdote or named figure; rather, it crystallised from the long-standing poetic pairing of 'wind' and 'sun' to depict ideal weather, a convention already well established in Tang and Song poetry.
💡 Example Usage
今天风和日丽，正是郊游的好时候。
The weather is beautiful today with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine — a perfect time for an outing.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 风和日丽
- Pinyin: fēng hé rì lì
- Literal Translation: wind gentle, sun beautiful
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4