📖 Meaning
Describes the scene of osmanthus flowers in full bloom around the Mid-Autumn Festival, their sweet fragrance wafting through the air. It evokes the sensory beauty and tranquil atmosphere of early autumn.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from a line in the Tang dynasty poem 'Lingyin Temple' (《灵隐寺》) by the poet Song Zhiwen (宋之问). The couplet reads: '桂子月中落，天香云外飘' — osmanthus seeds fall as if from the moon, and their heavenly fragrance drifts beyond the clouds. The verse was inspired by the poet's visit to Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, where osmanthus trees surrounded the sacred grounds. Over time, the imagery was condensed into the four-character idiom '桂子飘香' to capture the ethereal beauty of autumn osmanthus.
💡 Example Usage
中秋时节，桂子飘香，满城皆是秋意。
At Mid-Autumn, the osmanthus fragrance drifts through the air, filling the whole city with the feeling of autumn.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 桂子飘香
- Pinyin: guì zǐ piāo xiāng
- Literal Translation: osmanthus, seeds, drifting, fragrance
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4