📖 Meaning
Chrysanthemums fade and lotuses wither, a metaphor for a woman whose youthful beauty has faded with age. It paints a melancholic picture of passing time and lost bloom, often used to lament the decline of feminine charm.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom has no known historical origin or documented source (出处: 无). It is a literary expression formed by pairing two images of autumn decline — the chrysanthemum growing old and the lotus drying up — both traditional symbols of fading beauty. This type of nature-based metaphor is characteristic of classical Chinese poetry, where seasonal wilting is used to symbolize human aging. As it circulated among literati, it became a standard phrase for describing a woman's waning looks.
💡 Example Usage
她虽已菊老荷枯，但风韵犹存，谈吐依然优雅动人。
Though her beauty has long faded like withered chrysanthemums and dried lotuses, she still retains her charm and speaks with grace.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 菊老荷枯
- Pinyin: jú lǎo hé kū
- Literal Translation: chrysanthemum aged, lotus withered
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4