📖 Meaning
Refers to soft, weak, and decadent music that erodes one's spirit and morals. It is synonymous with the more common idiom 靡靡之音. The term is used to criticize musical or cultural works that lead people toward indulgence and decline.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Nan Shi (History of the Southern Dynasties), specifically in the annals of the Former Deposed Emperor (前废帝) of the Liu Song dynasty. The historical record notes that after completing certain affairs, the court would have such decadent music played. The Former Deposed Emperor of Liu Song was notorious for his dissolute behavior, and the phrase captures the morally corrupt atmosphere of his court. Over time, the expression became a standard critique of any music or entertainment deemed enervating and morally harmful.
💡 Example Usage
夜总会里回荡着靡靡之声，让人沉迷其中难以自拔。
Decadent music echoed through the nightclub, leaving people so entranced they could hardly pull themselves away.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 靡靡之声
- Pinyin: mǐ mǐ zhī shēng
- Literal Translation: languid, declining, of, sound
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4