鸳鸯戏

鴛鴦戲

yuānyāngxì

idiom

Meanings

1 the play of lovers
2 an intimate tryst
3 a romantic encounter

Characters

male mandarin duck

female mandarin duck

to play, to dally

Examples

词人笔下的鸳鸯戏，总带着几分朦胧。

Círén bǐ xià de yuānyāngxì, zǒng dàizhe jǐ fēn ménglóng.

The 'lovers' play' in a ci poet's lines always carries a veil of soft haze.

画中一对鸳鸯戏水，正合此景。

Huà zhōng yī duì yuānyāng xì shuǐ, zhèng hé cǐ jǐng.

In the painting a pair of mandarin ducks frolic in the water — just right for the mood.

Tips

register

Literary and somewhat euphemistic. Often just about mandarin ducks frolicking (鸳鸯戏水), but as a set phrase it implies amorous play between lovers. Classical register.

Stroke Order

鸳 yuān

鸯 yāng

戏 xì