芙蓉出水

fúróngchūshuǐ

idiom

Meanings

1 a lotus rising from the water
2 (figurative) fresh and unaffected (of art, poetry, or a beautiful woman)

Characters

Examples

她的诗清新自然，犹如芙蓉出水。

Tā de shī qīngxīn zìrán, yóurú fúróngchūshuǐ.

Her poems are fresh and natural, like a lotus rising from the water.

新娘当天美得芙蓉出水。

Xīnniáng dàngtiān měi de fúróngchūshuǐ.

The bride that day was as beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water.

Tips

history

From 《诗品》 by Zhong Rong 钟嵘 (Southern Dynasties): 谢诗如芙蓉出水，颜如错彩镂金 — 'Xie's poetry is like a lotus rising from the water, [Yan's] is like inlaid gold and woven brocade.' Zhong used it to praise Xie Lingyun's 谢灵运 plain, unornamented style over Yan Yanzhi's 颜延之 ornate one. Today the phrase praises any work of natural elegance, or describes a strikingly fresh-faced beauty.

Stroke Order

芙 fú

蓉 róng

出 chū

水 shuǐ