二月春风似剪刀

二月春風似剪刀
èr yuè chūn fēng sì jiǎn dāo
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 the February spring wind is like a pair of scissors
  2. 2 the second-month breeze snips out fresh leaves - an exquisite image of spring's craftsmanship

Examples

HSK 4
Lǎoshī jiǎng zhè shǒu shī, zuì xǐhuān nà jù èryuèchūnfēngsìjiǎndāo.
The teacher loves that line 'February spring wind like scissors' most when explaining this poem.
HSK 7-9
Kàn zhe liǔ yá mào chūlái, cái tǐhuì shénme jiào èryuèchūnfēngsìjiǎndāo.
Watching the willow buds appear, I finally get what 'February spring wind is like scissors' means.

Tips

history
From 贺知章 《咏柳》: 不知细叶谁裁出,二月春风似剪刀 - 'who cut out these slender leaves? The second-month wind is like a pair of scissors.' One of the earliest personifications of spring in Chinese verse.
usage
Usually quoted with the preceding 不知细叶谁裁出 to complete the riddle-and-answer. 二月 here refers to the lunar second month = late March in the solar calendar.

Stroke Order

èr
yuè
chūn
fēng
jiǎn
dāo