为有暗香来

為有暗香來

wèi yǒu àn xiāng lái

quotation

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

HSK 7-9

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, wèiyǒu'ànxiānglái.

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

HSK 7-9

隔壁邻居烤面包，为有暗香来，馋得我走出门。

Gébì línjū kǎo miànbāo, wèiyǒu'ànxiānglái, chán de wǒ zǒu chūmén.

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

Tips

history

From 王安石's 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 wéi

有 yǒu

暗 àn

香 xiāng

来 lái