为有暗香来

為有暗香來

wèiyǒuànxiānglái

phrase

Meanings

1 because a hidden fragrance drifts near
2 (fig.) quality reveals itself by subtle signs even when hidden — here, plum blossoms
3 (lit.) because-there-is hidden-fragrance coming

Characters

fragrance (暗香 = subtle scent of plum)

来

lái

to come

Examples

冬日走进院子，立刻知道梅花开了——为有暗香来。

Dōngrì zǒujìn yuànzi, lìkè zhīdào méihuā kāi le — wèi yǒu àn xiāng lái.

Stepping into the courtyard in winter, I knew at once the plums had bloomed — 'because a hidden fragrance came.'

隔壁邻居烤面包，为有暗香来，馋得我走出门。

Gébì línjū kǎo miànbāo, wèi yǒu àn xiāng lái, chán de wǒ zǒu chū mén.

The neighbor was baking bread — 'a hidden fragrance came' — and I stepped out, tempted.

Tips

history

From 王安石《梅花》(Wang Anshi, Northern Song, late 11th c.): 墙角数枝梅，凌寒独自开。遥知不是雪，为有暗香来 (A few plum branches at the wall's corner, defying the cold, bloom alone. From afar I know they aren't snow — because a hidden fragrance drifts near). A tiny five-character quatrain, but one of the most-memorized poems in Chinese primary-school textbooks.

usage

为 here reads wèi (meaning 'because of'), not wéi. Inseparable from 遥知不是雪. 暗香 = hidden/subtle fragrance, classic shorthand for plum blossoms. The poem is also Wang Anshi's implied self-portrait — a lone reformer whose worth reveals itself quietly.

Stroke Order

为 wèi

有 yǒu

暗 àn

香 xiāng

来 lái