国色天香

國色天香
guósè-tiānxiāng
idiom #84,537

Meanings

  1. 1 of national beauty and heavenly fragrance (originally describing the peony)
  2. 2 (of a woman) extraordinarily beautiful

Examples

HSK 7-9
Luòyáng de mǔdān zhēnshì guósè-tiānxiāng.
The peonies of Luoyang truly have beauty fit for a nation and fragrance fit for the heavens.
HSK 7-9
国色天香倾国倾城
Tā shēng de guósè-tiānxiāng, qīngguó-qīngchéng.
She was born of stunning beauty - a face to topple kingdoms.

Tips

history
From the Tang scholar Li Jun's 《摭异记》: 国色朝酣酒天香夜染衣 - 'her national-grade colour drinks the morning wine; her heavenly fragrance dyes the evening robes.' Originally a tribute to peonies (牡丹), and Luoyang's peonies in particular. Later extended to extraordinarily beautiful women.
register
Florid and somewhat dated when applied to a woman in modern speech - usually now appears in classical-style writing, period dramas, or self-consciously elaborate compliments. For peonies and national symbols, however, it's still the standard phrase.

Stroke Order

guó
tiān
xiāng