Tā bǎ tiān jiē xiǎo yǔ rùn rú sū chāo zài le rìjìběn fēiyè.
She copied 'fine rain on the imperial street, moist as butter' onto the inside cover of her diary.
Tips
history
Opening line of 韩愈 Han Yu 《早春呈水部张十八员外》: 天街小雨润如酥，草色遥看近却无 — 'fine rain on the imperial avenues is soft as butter; grass-color seen from afar, vanishes up close.' The capital's early spring.
usage
天街 = 'heavenly street' = the main avenues of the imperial capital (Chang'an). 酥 (sū) is a soft dairy cream (like clotted butter) — a Tang-era luxury metaphor for softness. Usually quoted with the following 草色遥看近却无.
