章台杨柳 — “Refers to a graceful and beautiful woman”
章台杨柳 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to a graceful and beautiful woman”. Often with a slender figure and elegant demeanor, reminiscent of the willows in Zhangtai. Literally, “Zhangtai Willows”.
章台杨柳 Pronunciation and Pinyin
章台杨柳 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 章台杨柳
Origin and Story of 章台杨柳
During the Tang Dynasty, Han Wei had a concubine named Lady Liu, who was renowned for her exquisite beauty. When the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, the couple was separated, and Lady Liu became a nun.
Later, Han Wei served as a secretary to Hou Xiyi, the military commissioner of Pinglu. He sent a poem to Lady Liu which read: 'Willows of Zhangtai, willows of Zhangtai, are you still verdant as in days of old? Even if your long branches still droop as before, they must have been plucked by another's hand.'
At that time, Lady Liu had been abducted by a barbarian general named Sha Chili. Hou Xiyi's subordinate then devised a plan that eventually led to their reunion.
Idioms Related to 章台杨柳
Synonyms of 章台杨柳
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Open the tool →Questions about 章台杨柳
What does 章台杨柳 mean?
章台杨柳 (zhāng tái yáng liǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to a graceful and beautiful woman”.
How do you pronounce 章台杨柳?
章台杨柳 is pronounced zhāng tái yáng liǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 章台杨柳 literally mean?
Literally, 章台杨柳 means “Zhangtai Willows”. It is used to mean “refers to a graceful and beautiful woman”.
Where does 章台杨柳 come from?
章台杨柳 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 章台杨柳?
比喻窈窕美丽的女子。