📖 Meaning
Describes the scene of dropped hairpins and earrings scattered along the roadside, originally depicting women's abandoned finery during festive spring outings. It conveys a sense of carefree revelry and lively celebration where ornaments were lost in the joy of the moment.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a Song dynasty ci lyric by the poet Liu Yong (柳永) titled '木兰花' (Magnolia Flower). The poem depicts a vibrant spring scene of women enjoying outdoor activities such as grass games and Qingming festival outings. Along the roadside, the poet observed scattered hairpins, earrings, pearls, and jade ornaments — vivid signs of carefree merriment. The phrase evokes an image of festive celebration where finery was abandoned in the excitement of the occasion.
💡 Example Usage
春日踏青，游人如织，遗簪坠珥，满路珠翠。
On a spring outing, throngs of revelers filled the paths, leaving behind dropped hairpins and earrings, with pearls and jade scattered all along the road.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 遗簪坠珥
- Pinyin: yí zān zhuì ěr
- Literal Translation: left behind hairpin, fallen earrings
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4