霜叶红于二月花

霜葉紅於二月花
shuāng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 frost-touched leaves are redder than spring blossoms
  2. 2 late-season beauty can surpass early bloom
  3. 3 classic image of autumn leaves outshining spring flowers

Examples

HSK 3
Xiāngshān de qiūtiān zhēn ràng rén tǐhuì dào shuāng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā.
Autumn at Fragrant Hills really makes you feel the line 'frost-touched leaves are redder than spring flowers.'
HSK 7-9
Tuìxiū zhīhòu tā de shūfǎ yùfā jīngjìn, zhēnshì shuāng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā.
His calligraphy has only improved since retirement - truly, 'frost-touched leaves are redder than spring blossoms.'

Tips

history
Closing line of Du Mu's (杜牧, late Tang) 《山行》 ('Walking the Mountains'): 远上寒山石径斜白云生处有人家停车坐爱枫林晚霜叶红于二月花 - 'Far up the cold mountain the stone path slants; where white clouds rise there are homes. I stop the carriage just to love the maple wood at dusk - its frost-touched leaves are redder than spring flowers.'
usage
Often applied metaphorically to older people whose achievements come in their later years, or to late-career excellence. here functions as 'than' in comparative construction (redder than).

Stroke Order

shuāng
hóng
èr
yuè
huā