📖 Meaning
Refers to elegant and tasteful affairs. Originally it described refined literary pursuits of scholars such as poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It also commonly refers to romantic love affairs between men and women.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing dynasty scholar Wang Tao's work 'Yingruan Zazhi' (瀛壖杂志). The passage recounts a gathering where attendees stepped back, not daring to ask a certain person's name; when candles were brought closer to reveal her, it turned out to be the courtesan Qian Fu. The crowd erupted in excitement, calling the incident an elegant romantic affair and a fine anecdote of peaceful times. From this, the phrase came to denote charming and refined anecdotes, especially those involving romance.
💡 Example Usage
历史上许多才子都留下过风流韵事。
Many talented scholars throughout history have left behind romantic tales.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 风流韵事
- Pinyin: fēng liú yùn shì
- Literal Translation: wind, flow, charm, affair
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4