俏也不争春

俏也不爭春

qiào yě bù zhēng chūn

quotation

Meanings

1 beautiful, yet not contending for spring
2 graceful without grasping for recognition - Mao's plum-blossom image

Characters

pretty; charming

Examples

HSK 7-9

她做事默默无闻，真有俏也不争春的气度。

Tā zuòshì mòmò-wúwén, zhēn yǒu qiàoyěbùzhēngchūn de qìdù.

She works quietly behind the scenes - truly 'beautiful without contending for the spring.'

HSK 7-9

这位前辈功成身退，俏也不争春。

Zhèwèi qiánbèi gōngchéng-shēntuì, qiàoyěbùzhēngchūn.

This senior stepped back after success - beautiful without competing for glory.

Tips

history

From 毛泽东《卜算子·咏梅》 (1961): 俏也不争春，只把春来报 - 'lovely yet not contending for spring, she just announces spring's arrival.' Written about the plum blossom as a model of unassuming virtue.

usage

Usually quoted with the next line 只把春来报 to complete the idea. The poem is a deliberate counter to 陆游's older 《卜算子·咏梅》 - Lu You's plum was mournful, Mao's is modest and confident.

Stroke Order

俏 qiào

也 yě

不 bù

争 zhēng

春 chūn