小桥流水人家

小橋流水人家

xiǎo qiáo liú shuǐ rén jiā

quotation

Meanings

1 little bridges, flowing streams, village houses
2 a tranquil, picturesque Jiangnan-style scene

Characters

home (人家 = households)

Examples

HSK 7-9

这个古镇小桥流水人家，充满江南风情。

Zhège gǔzhèn xiǎoqiáo liúshuǐ rénjiā, chōngmǎn Jiāngnán fēngqíng.

This old town - small bridges, flowing water, houses - is full of Jiangnan charm.

HSK 7-9

我梦想退休后在一个小桥流水人家的地方养老。

Wǒ mèngxiǎng tuìxiū hòu zài yīgè xiǎoqiáo liúshuǐ rénjiā de dìfāng yǎnglǎo.

I dream of retiring to a place of little bridges, flowing water, and old houses.

Tips

history

From Ma Zhiyuan's (马致远) Yuan-dynasty sanqu 《天净沙·秋思》: 枯藤老树昏鸦，小桥流水人家，古道西风瘦马 - 'Withered vines, old trees, evening crows; small bridges, flowing streams, village homes; ancient road, west wind, thin horse.' Often called 'the ancestor of autumn-sorrow verse' (秋思之祖).

usage

The phrase has become synonymous with idyllic Jiangnan towns (Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Xitang). Widely used in travel writing, real-estate marketing, and poetry about pastoral retreat.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

桥 qiáo

流 liú

水 shuǐ

人 rén

家 jiā