俏也不争春

俏也不爭春

qiàoyěbùzhēngchūn

phrase

Meanings

1 beautiful, yet not contending for spring
2 graceful without grasping for recognition — Mao's plum-blossom image

Characters

pretty; charming

Examples

她做事默默无闻，真有俏也不争春的气度。

Tā zuòshì mòmòwúwén, zhēn yǒu qiào yě bù zhēng chūn de qìdù.

She works quietly behind the scenes — truly 'beautiful without contending for the spring.'

这位前辈功成身退，俏也不争春。

Zhè wèi qiánbèi gōng chéng shēn tuì, qiào yě bù zhēng chūn.

This senior stepped back after success — beautiful without competing for glory.

Tips

history

From 毛泽东 Mao Zedong 《卜算子·咏梅》 (1961): 俏也不争春，只把春来报 — 'lovely yet not contending for spring, she just announces spring's arrival.' Written about the plum blossom as a model of unassuming virtue.

usage

Usually quoted with the next line 只把春来报 to complete the idea. The poem is a deliberate counter to 陆游's older 卜算子·咏梅 — Lu You's plum was mournful, Mao's is modest and confident.

Stroke Order

俏 qiào

也 yě

不 bù

争 zhēng

春 chūn