📖 Meaning
Literally referring to soft and tender twigs. Metaphorically, it describes a graceful, beautiful young woman in the prime of her youth. The idiom conveys delicacy and gentle beauty.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from 'Yuzan Ji' (The Jade Hairpin), a Ming Dynasty chuanqi play by Gao Lian. In the scene titled 'Ci Gou' (Matchmaking Through Poetry), the line compares a delicate young woman to soft, tender branches rather than roadside weeds. The work is a celebrated romance about a young scholar and a nun. Gao Lian's poetic imagery established this phrase as a literary metaphor for youthful feminine beauty.
💡 Example Usage
她正值豆蔻年华，宛如柔枝嫩条，令人心生怜惜。
In the prime of her youth, she was like a soft, tender branch, inspiring tender affection in others.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 柔枝嫩条
- Pinyin: róu zhī nèn tiáo
- Literal Translation: soft, branch, tender, twig
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4