📖 Meaning
A classical metaphor describing the intimate union between a man and a woman. The imagery of two mythological birds— the luán and the phoenix— tumbling and overturning together symbolizes sexual congress. It is a euphemistic, literary expression found in Ming dynasty romantic drama.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from the Ming dynasty drama 'Four Joys' (《四喜记》) by the playwright Xiè Dàng (谢谠). In the scene 'The Benevolent Lord Bestows Marriage' (仁主赐婚), the libretto reads: 'Joyfully the luán and phoenix tumble and overturn; deliciously the dew is moist and the blossom tender.' The line uses the intertwined mythological birds as a poetic stand-in for the conjugal consummation of newlyweds. The metaphor draws on a long Chinese literary tradition in which paired birds signify lovers.
💡 Example Usage
新婚之夜，二人鸾颠凤倒，说不尽的恩爱缠绵。
On their wedding night, the two shared an intimate union, their tender devotion beyond words.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
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🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 鸾颠凤倒
- Pinyin: luán diān fèng dǎo
- Literal Translation: mythical bird, overturned, phoenix, inverted
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4