📖 Meaning
Orioles sing and swallows chatter. It describes the beautiful and vibrant scene of spring, filled with the pleasant sounds of birds. The idiom evokes a harmonious and lively springtime atmosphere.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no single definitive literary source but draws on imagery deeply rooted in classical Chinese poetry. Orioles (莺) and swallows (燕) are both iconic symbols of spring in Chinese literary tradition, celebrated in Tang and Song dynasty verse. The phrase combines the singing of orioles with the chattering of swallows to paint an auditory picture of spring's arrival. Such bird imagery appears frequently in the works of poets like Du Fu and Bai Juyi, who used spring birds to convey renewal and beauty.
💡 Example Usage
春天的公园里莺歌燕语，让人心旷神怡。
In the park in spring, orioles sing and swallows chatter, filling one's heart with delight.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 莺歌燕语
- Pinyin: yīng gē yàn yǔ
- Literal Translation: oriole, sing, swallow, speak
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4