📖 Meaning
Literally referring to the fragrant herbs growing along the banks of the Yuan and Li rivers. It is used metaphorically to describe people or things of noble, pure, and refined character, set apart from the ordinary.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Chu Ci' (Songs of Chu), specifically the piece 'Xiang Fu Ren' (The Lady of the Xiang River) attributed to Qu Yuan of the Warring States period. The line reads: 'The Yuan has its angelica, the Li has its orchids.' The Han dynasty scholar Wang Yi annotated that the Yuan River teems with lush angelica and the Li River with fragrant orchids, distinguishing them from ordinary grasses. Later generations adopted this imagery as a metaphor for individuals of lofty and unsullied virtue.
💡 Example Usage
他品性高洁，犹如沅芷澧兰，令人敬仰。
His character is noble and pure, like the fragrant herbs of the Yuan and Li rivers, commanding deep admiration.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 沅芷澧兰
- Pinyin: yuán zhǐ lǐ lán
- Literal Translation: Yuan River, angelica herb, Li River, orchid
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4