This young lady has a moon-hiding, flower-shaming beauty.
Tips
history
Per Xinhua, from the Yuan zaju 元·王子一《误入桃源》: 引动这撩云拨雨心，想起那闭月羞花貌 — 'stirring this cloud-and-rain heart, calling to mind that moon-hiding flower-shaming face'. Popularised through its use in 《儒林外史》 and 《官场现形记》 alongside 沉鱼落雁.
culture
Paired with 沉鱼落雁 to cover the Four Great Beauties: 闭月 ('hiding moon') points to Diaochan (貂蝉), and 羞花 ('shaming flowers') to Yang Guifei (杨贵妃). Together, the four-phrase pair is the canonical praise for legendary feminine beauty.
