📖 Meaning
A vivid description of bright spring scenery with red flowers and green willows. It is also used more broadly to describe a scene full of vibrant, colorful, and eye-catching elements.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from a lyric poem titled 'Shengzhazi' by Wei Chengban, a poet of the Shu kingdom during the Five Dynasties period. The original line reads, 'Amidst red flowers and green willows, the clear sky stretches wide,' painting a picture of a radiant spring day. Over time, the phrase became a popular four-character idiom used to evoke the beauty of spring or a profusion of bright colors. It frequently appears in classical Chinese literature, including the Ming dynasty novel 'Jin Ping Mei' by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng.
💡 Example Usage
春天到了，公园里花红柳绿，游人如织。
When spring arrived, the park was full of red flowers and green willows, teeming with visitors.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 花红柳绿
- Pinyin: huā hóng liǔ lǜ
- Literal Translation: flowers red, willows green
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4