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These ten literary words and expressions offer a glimpse of Chinese poetic imagery. “Most beautiful” is a matter of taste: the selections below are examples to explore, not an objective ranking. Many are more suitable for writing and poetry than everyday conversation.
芳华 (fāng huá)
芳华 is a literary word often referring to the beauty of youth or one’s youthful years. 芳 suggests fragrance and beauty, while 华 can evoke splendor. Example: 年轻人应当把握时间，切莫虚度芳华。 Young people should make good use of their time and not waste their youth. 刹那芳华 suggests beauty that lasts only a moment; 芳华永驻 expresses a wish for lasting youthful beauty. The established expression 风华绝代 (fēnghuá juédài), with 风 rather than 芳, describes peerless elegance and talent.
胭脂 (yān zhi)
This could mean:1. Rouge; a red cosmetic applied to the cheeks or lips (used in ancient China)2. The color carmine red3. Carmine red pigment used in paintings
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Ex:她脸上因哭泣而起的红晕，好像涂了过多的胭脂一般。The red blush on her face caused by crying, seems as if she had applied too much rouge.在朝霞中，万道金光给水面染上了一层胭脂红。In the morning glow, thousands of golden rays dyed the water with a layer of carmine red.胭脂虎 (“rouge tiger”) is a dated, derogatory expression for a fierce woman; it is not a neutral compliment.
银装素裹 (yín zhuāng sù guǒ)
The 装 here could mean 装饰 (decorate), 包装 (packed in) or 衣装/着装 (clothing/dressed in). Literally, this word means “decorated (装) in silver (银), and wrapped (裹) in a plain (素) color”; which is used to refer the scenes after snow, describing the beautiful snow scenery where everything is “dressed in” silvery-white, and covered with snow.
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Ex:雪后的北京故宫银装素裹美如画。The Beijing Palace Museum after the snow is dressed in silvery-white, which is as beautiful as a picture.
笑靥如花 (xiào yè rú huā)
This word is used to describe that someone is very beautiful; when the person smiles (笑), he/she is “beautiful like (如) a flower (花)”.靥 means “dimples” or a traditional decoration ornament for women which is drawn or pasted on the cheeks. Ex:我用江山如画，换你笑靥如花。I would use the picturesque kingdom, to exchange for your smiling face.愿你永远笑靥如花，不负韶华。 May you always smile like a flower and live up to the good times.
繁花似锦 (fán huā sì jǐn)
This means “numerous (繁) colorful flowers (花) blooming, which seems like (似/好似) beautiful brocades (锦/锦缎)”. This is commonly used to describe hundreds of flowers all blooming at the same time; which could be extended to indicate beautiful sceneries or other things.Ex:岛上繁花似锦，绿树成荫。The island is covered with brocade-like flowers and many trees which form a pleasant shade.繁花似锦觅安宁，淡云流水渡此生。Finding peace of mind in the colorful world; watching the clouds and listening to the sounds of the river, living a life like this.
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似水流年 (sì shuǐ liú nián)
This originated from the legendary script “The Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭)” written by Tang Xianzu (汤显祖) in the Ming Dynasty (明代). It is a love story of a couple who went through life and death to be together; also known as one of the four masterpieces in the history of Chinese classical drama.It literally means “like (似) water (水) that the years (年) are streaming/flowing (流) away”. Indicating that “youth passes as a fleeting wave”, or “time passing swiftly like flowing water”. 年 could also indicate 年华 (age; time).Ex:则为你如花美眷，似水流年。 (original sentence written by Tang Xianzu)“For you, a companion as beautiful as flowers, as the years flow by like water.” This is a poetic line, not a literal instruction to hurry into a relationship.风花雪月虽滋润，似水流年添伤痕。As though living an indulgent life is enjoyable, time passes like water which would only add scars.
风花雪月 (fēng huā xuě yuè)
风花雪月 literally lists wind, flowers, snow and the moon—images associated with poetic scenery. The following verse also evokes the seasons, but should not be treated as the origin of the expression: 春有百花秋有月，夏有凉风冬有雪。 Spring has a hundred flowers and autumn has the moon; summer has cool breezes and winter has snow.
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Depending on context, 风花雪月 can describe romantic or poetic themes. It can also criticize writing as ornamental or detached from practical concerns. It does not always mean debauchery. Example: 近年来的文学市场上，多是些风花雪月的作品。 Much of the recent literary market consists of works about romance and poetic sentiment.
浮生若梦 (fú shēng ruò mèng)
雕栏玉砌 (diāo lán yù qì)
雕栏玉砌 appears in Li Yu’s lyric 虞美人. Li Yu was the last ruler of Southern Tang, and the lyric recalls his lost kingdom. The expression evokes carved railings and jade steps, and describes an ornate, magnificent building. Accounts linking the lyric directly to his death should not be presented as settled fact.
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Ex:雕栏玉砌应犹在，只是朱颜改。 (original sentence written by Li Yu)“The carved railings and jade steps must still remain; only the youthful faces have changed.” This translation preserves the poetic image without limiting 朱颜 to one particular group of people.这座宫殿真是雕栏玉砌，金碧辉煌。This palace is truly delicately carved and made of jade, which is resplendent and magnificent.
灯火阑珊 (dēng huǒ lán shān)
灯火阑珊 appears in Xin Qiji’s lyric 青玉案·元夕, set around the Lantern Festival. It describes lights becoming sparse or dim. It does not by itself establish that an area is deserted or sparsely populated. The poem can invite symbolic readings, but the vocabulary meaning is the dim or fading light.
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Ex:众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。 (original sentence written by Xin Qiji)“I searched the crowd for that person a thousand times; suddenly turning back, I found them where the lights were dim.”熙熙攘攘的闹市，灯火阑珊的街头。Hustle and bustle downtown, streets where lights are waning.Our article ends here with these words and idioms (成语), and we hope that you have experienced the beauty of the Chinese language with us. As you can see, many idioms originated from ancient poetry and verses, which are all rhythmical and beautifully written. If you are interested, you could read more “Poems of the Tang Dynasty (唐诗)” or “Verses of the Song Dynasty (宋词)”; from which you will be learning both the language and the culture.
