📖 Meaning
A metaphor for places of romantic pleasure, particularly brothels and entertainment quarters. The phrase uses ornate imagery—brocade tents and flower-like arrangements—to evoke the seductive allure of such venues. It often carries a cautionary undertone about the dangers hidden behind beautiful facades.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom first appears in Act Four of the Yuan Dynasty play 'Yun Chuang Meng' (《云窗梦》) by an anonymous author, in the line '锦营花阵，偎红倚翠' (brocade camps and flower formations, cuddling the red and leaning on the green). It was later famously quoted by the Ming Dynasty playwright Meng Chengshun (孟称舜) in his play 'Si Li Tao Sheng' (《死里逃生》), where the beautiful imagery is contrasted with hidden peril. The phrase draws on military imagery—'营' (camp) and '阵' (formation)—reimagined as ornate pleasure quarters.
💡 Example Usage
他年轻时沉迷锦营花阵，荒废了大好前程。
In his youth, he squandered his promising future by losing himself in the pleasure quarters.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 锦营花阵
- Pinyin: jǐn yíng huā zhèn
- Literal Translation: brocade, camp, flower, formation
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4