📖 Meaning
Literally referring to the posture of cattail and willow trees, which wither and lose their leaves early in autumn. Used as a self-deprecating expression to describe one's own weak constitution or premature aging. Traditionally a polite way to humbly refer to one's frail health.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from 'Shishuo Xinyu' (A New Account of the Tales of the World) compiled by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasties Song period. The full phrase contrasts '蒲柳之姿，望秋而落' (the cattail and willow shed their leaves at the approach of autumn) with '松柏之质，经霜弥茂' (the pine and cypress grow even more luxuriant after frost). The expression uses the early-falling leaves of cattail and willow as a metaphor for a person with a weak constitution who ages prematurely, while the evergreen pine and cypress symbolize a robust constitution that endures hardship. It became a classic humble expression for describing one's own frail health.
💡 Example Usage
他常自谦蒲柳之姿，恐怕难以担当此重任。
He often humbly described himself as having a frail constitution, fearing he might not be up to such an important responsibility.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 蒲柳之姿
- Pinyin: pú liǔ zhī zī
- Literal Translation: cattail, willow, of, posture
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4