活色生香

huósè-shēngxiāng

idiom

Meanings

1 vivid and lifelike
2 captivating (of a woman)
3 (of a flower) vividly colorful and fragrant

Characters

produce, give off

Examples

这幅画画得活色生香。

Zhè fú huàhuà de huósèshēngxiāng.

This painting is wonderfully vivid.

她的表演活色生香，令人难忘。

Tā de biǎoyǎn huósèshēngxiāng, lìngrén nánwàng.

Her performance was captivating and unforgettable.

Tips

usage

Literal sense: 'living color, producing fragrance' — a flower so vivid it seems real. Extended to vivid writing, painting, and (especially) charming women; also common in food reviews.

Stroke Order

活 huó

色 sè

生 shēng

香 xiāng