📖 Meaning
Refers to young men and women dressed in bright, colorful clothing. It is often used to describe a lively scene full of elegantly dressed youths, such as at festivals, fairs, or scenic spots.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom appears in the Qing dynasty work 'Yanjing Suishi Ji' (Record of the Seasonal Customs of Beijing) by Fucha Dunchong, in the entry on Wanshou Temple (万寿寺). The text describes the many visitors at the temple, noting that 'green women and red men' — young people in vivid dress — thronged the roads together. The phrase highlights the colorful attire of the crowds, and over time it came to stand for fashionable young people in general.
💡 Example Usage
庙会上绿女红男，游人如织，热闹非凡。
At the temple fair, young men and women in colorful dress milled about among the thronging crowds, making it a scene of great bustle and festivity.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 绿女红男
- Pinyin: lǜ nǚ hóng nán
- Literal Translation: green women, red men
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4