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忙趁东风放纸鸢

忙趁東風放紙鳶
máng chèn dōngfēng fàng zhǐyuān
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 hurrying to catch the east wind, they fly their kites
  2. 2 (fig.) a classic spring scene of children at play
  3. 3 (lit.) hurriedly taking advantage of east-wind, release paper-kite

Examples

HSK 7-9
清明前后，公园里孩子们忙趁东风放纸鸢。
Qīngmíng qiánhòu, gōngyuán lǐ háizimen mángchèndōngfēngfàngzhǐyuān.
Around Qingming, children in the park are 'hurrying to catch the east wind, flying their kites.'
HSK 7-9
广场上到处是风筝，正所谓忙趁东风放纸鸢。
Guǎngchǎng shàng dàochù shì fēngzheng, zhèng suǒwèi mángchèndōngfēngfàngzhǐyuān.
Kites are everywhere in the square - truly 'hurrying to catch the east wind to fly their kites.'

Tips

history
From 高鼎《村居》 (Gao Ding, late Qing, 19th c.): 草长莺飞二月天，拂堤杨柳醉春烟。儿童散学归来早，忙趁东风放纸鸢 (Grass grows, orioles fly in second-month weather; willows brushing the dike are drunk on spring mist. Children, dismissed from school, hurry home - rushing to catch the east wind and fly their kites). A primary-school staple, taught alongside Qingming Festival lessons.
usage
趁 (chèn) = to take advantage of (an opportunity). 纸鸢 (zhǐyuān) is the classical/poetic word for kite (modern Chinese uses 风筝). 东风 = spring's east wind - the proper season for kite-flying in China. Quote whenever talking about spring outings or children's games.

Stroke Order

忙 máng
趁 chèn
东 dōng
风 fēng
放 fàng
纸 zhǐ
鸢 yuān