不爱红装爱武装

不愛紅裝愛武裝
bùàihóngzhuāngàiwǔzhuāng
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 they love not red finery but military uniform
  2. 2 (of women) preferring to soldier rather than to dress up
  3. 3 lit. not loving red dress, loving martial dress

Examples

Zài nàge niándài, xǔduō nǚ qīngnián bù ài hóngzhuāng ài wǔzhuāng, zhǔdòng cānjūn.
In that era, many young women loved not dresses but uniforms, and joined the army of their own will.
Zhè bù diànyǐng zhǎnxiàn le bù ài hóngzhuāng ài wǔzhuāng de nǚbīng xíngxiàng.
The film portrays the image of women soldiers who prefer uniform to dress.

Tips

history
From Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) 1961 poem 《民兵》 ('Inscription for a Photo of Women Militia'): 姿曙光中华儿女武装 — 'Gallant, five-foot rifles in hand; first dawn lights the drill ground. China's daughters have striking ambition: they love not red finery but martial dress.' A signature line of Cultural-Revolution-era women's imagery.
usage
= traditional red wedding/festive clothing; 武装 = military equipment/uniform. The couplet turns on the wordplay / 武装. Still frequently quoted, often playfully, about women in non-traditional roles.

Stroke Order

ài
hóng
zhuāng