📖 Meaning
A woman who possesses the courage, spirit, and heroic qualities traditionally associated with men. It praises a woman of exceptional strength and capability who stands equal to or surpasses her male counterparts.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the Qing Dynasty writer Shen Qifeng's work 《谐鳏·巾帼暮宾》. The original line reads '如僿者，亦岂须眉而巾帼者哉？', which questions whether a manly-looking person could be weak-willed like a woman. Over time, the phrase shifted from a negative connotation to a positive one, celebrating women who display masculine bravery and heroism.
💡 Example Usage
她虽是女儿身，却是一位真正的巾帼须眉。
Although she is a woman by birth, she is a true heroine with a warrior's courage.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 巾帼须眉
- Pinyin: jīn guó xū méi
- Literal Translation: woman's headscarf, beard and eyebrows
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4