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欲把西湖比西子

Yù bǎ Xīhú bǐ Xī Zǐ
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 I would compare West Lake to Lady Xi Shi
  2. 2 a classic compliment to West Lake's beauty
  3. 3 (lit.) wishing to take West Lake and compare it with Xi Shi

Examples

HSK 4
游杭州西湖时，人们常想起欲把西湖比西子这句诗。
Yóu Hángzhōu Xīhú shí, rénmen cháng xiǎngqǐ yùbǎxīhúbǐxīzǐ zhè jù shī.
When visiting Hangzhou's West Lake, people often recall the line 'I would compare West Lake to Xi Shi.'
HSK 7-9
欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜，真是千古名句。
Yùbǎxīhúbǐxīzǐ, dànzhuāngnóngmǒzǒngxiāngyí, zhēnshì qiān gǔ míng jù.
'I'd compare West Lake to Xi Shi - light makeup or heavy, she's always lovely.' Truly a line for the ages.

Tips

history
From Su Shi's (苏轼, Northern Song) 《饮湖上初晴后雨》: 水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇。欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜。 (Shimmering waters look fine in sun; misty mountains charm in rain. I’d compare West Lake to Lady Xi Shi - in light or heavy makeup, always beautiful.) 西子 = 西施, legendary beauty of ancient Yue - the comparison stuck, and West Lake is still nicknamed 西子湖.
usage
西子 here is a respectful diminutive for 西施 (Xī Shī), not 'the West' or 'Mr/Mrs West.' The tone is light and admiring - a go-to line for praising anything with versatile beauty.

Stroke Order

欲 yù
把 bǎ
西 xī
湖 hú
比 bǐ
子 zǐ