📖 Meaning
The lone phoenix (孤鸾) is a metaphor for a man who has lost his spouse, while the widowed swan (寡鹄) represents a widow. Together, the idiom refers to men and women who have lost their partners and live in solitude. It conveys the sorrow and loneliness of bereaved spouses.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom traces back to the Han dynasty scholar Wang Bao's 'Ode to the Bamboo Flute' (洞箫赋), which describes 'the lone female and widowed crane finding solace below' (孤雌寡鹤，娱优乎其下兮). The original imagery depicted solitary birds drawn to the melancholic music of the bamboo flute. Over time, the expression evolved into '孤鸾寡鹄' (lone phoenix and widowed swan), using these symbols of fidelity to specifically denote bereaved spouses.
💡 Example Usage
这对孤鸾寡鹄在晚年相遇，彼此慰藉，重新找到了生活的温暖。
These two lonely souls, both having lost their spouses, met in their later years and found comfort in each other, rediscovering the warmth of life.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 孤鸾寡鹄
- Pinyin: gū luán guǎ hú
- Literal Translation: lone, phoenix, widowed, swan
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4