📖 Meaning
The idiom describes singing as melodious as an oriole and dancing as graceful as a swallow. It conveys a scene of beauty and liveliness, often evoking pleasant spring surroundings or a flourishing, prosperous situation.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase traces back to the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi, who wrote in his poem 'Jinbei Pavilion' (《锦被亭》): 'Mist red, dew green, the dawn wind fragrant; swallows dance and orioles sing as the spring day grows long.' Over time, the vivid imagery of orioles singing and swallows dancing was condensed into the four-character idiom 歌莺舞燕. It captures the vibrant beauty of spring and the joy of prosperous, carefree times.
💡 Example Usage
春日游园，歌莺舞燕，令人流连忘返。
Strolling through the garden on a spring day, with orioles singing and swallows dancing, one lingers and forgets to return.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 歌莺舞燕
- Pinyin: gē yíng wǔ yàn
- Literal Translation: sing, oriole, dance, swallow
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4