📖 Meaning
Describes a rich profusion of colors, especially the vibrant bloom of spring flowers. By extension, it refers to great variety, diversity, and prosperity in any domain — literature, culture, ideas, or society.
📜 Origin Story
From the Song dynasty poet Zhu Xi (朱熹) in his famous poem 'Spring Day' (春日): '等闲识得东风面，万紫千红总是春' (One easily recognizes the face of the east wind — ten thousand purples and a thousand reds are all signs of spring). Zhu Xi used the brilliant colors of spring blossoms to praise the flourishing of learning and wisdom.
💡 Example Usage
春天的公园里万紫千红，百花争艳，美不胜收。
In spring the park is ablaze with every hue — a profusion of blossoms competing in beauty, too lovely to take in all at once.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 万紫千红
- Pinyin: wàn zǐ qiān hóng
- Literal Translation: ten thousand purple, one thousand red
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4