📖 Meaning
Literally refers to floating melons and sinking plums in cold spring water to cool them. It describes the practice of using cold spring water to wash fruits to quench thirst and beat the summer heat. Metaphorically, it denotes a leisurely, refreshing summer lifestyle.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from a letter by Cao Pi of the Wei Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, titled 'Letter to Wu Zhi, Magistrate of Zhaoge.' In the letter, Cao Pi wrote about floating sweet melons in clear springs and sinking red plums in cold water to enjoy during summer. The expression vividly captures the aristocratic leisure of escaping the heat with chilled fruits. It is also commonly written as 浮瓜沉李.
💡 Example Usage
炎夏午后，几个老友在院中浮瓜沈李，谈笑消暑。
On a sweltering summer afternoon, a few old friends floated melons and sank plums in the courtyard, chatting and laughing to escape the heat.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 浮瓜沈李
- Pinyin: fú guā shěn lǐ
- Literal Translation: float melon, sink plum
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4