雾鬓云鬟

wù bìn yún huán
Literal: "mist, temple hair, cloud, hair ring"

📖 Meaning

Describes a woman's beautiful hair that resembles floating clouds and drifting mist. It is used to depict the elegance and beauty of a woman's appearance. The idiom evokes an ethereal, delicate image of feminine grace.

📜 Origin Story

The idiom originates from the Song Dynasty. The poet Su Shi used the phrase in his poem 'Written for the Mao Nü Zhen,' comparing a woman's temple hair to mist and her coiffure to clouds. The poet Fan Chengda also employed similar imagery in his poem 'New Scenery Pavilion,' describing misty tresses by the flowers and cloud-like garments by the wine. Over time, the phrase became a classical expression for feminine beauty, particularly the beauty of a woman's hair.

💡 Example Usage

她梳着雾鬓云鬟,着一袭白裙,立于湖畔轻声吟唱。

With cloud-like tresses and misty temple hair, she wore a white dress and stood by the lake singing softly.

🏷️ Category

➕ Similar Idioms

➖ Opposite Idioms

🔤 Quick Facts

  • Chinese: 雾鬓云鬟
  • Pinyin: wù bìn yún huán
  • Literal Translation: mist, temple hair, cloud, hair ring
  • Category: Quality
  • Characters: 4