Campus club activities are rich and varied — a riot of color, truly springlike.
Tips
history
The closing line of Zhu Xi's (朱熹) Song-dynasty poem 《春日》 (A Spring Day): 胜日寻芳泗水滨，无边光景一时新。等闲识得东风面，万紫千红总是春。 — 'On a fine day I seek spring flowers by the River Si; the boundless scene is fresh and new. Casually I recognize the face of the east wind — ten thousand purples, a thousand reds, all is spring.' Originally a reflection on recognizing the Confucian Way in nature's variety.
usage
Extremely common in speeches, editorials, and New Year greetings to praise diverse, flourishing conditions. The shorter 万紫千红 (a blaze of color) is its own chengyu; the full line carries the added 'this is what spring looks like' punch.
