倾国倾城 qīng guó qīng chéng Beauty that ruins a country

Explanation

形容女子容貌极其美丽，美丽到足以使国家倾覆。

Describes the extraordinary beauty of a woman, so beautiful that she could bring a country to ruin.

Origin Story

汉武帝时期，一位才貌双全的女子李夫人，因其美貌而闻名。她的一颦一笑，都足以倾倒众生。汉武帝对她宠爱有加，后宫佳丽三千，也难以与她相比。李夫人的美貌，不仅使汉武帝神魂颠倒，更是让整个朝廷为之倾倒，后人便用“倾国倾城”来形容她的美貌，甚至流传出“一顾倾人城，再顾倾人国”的诗句。然而，李夫人的美貌却也给她带来了不幸，她最终因病早逝，留下无尽的遗憾。

hàn wǔdì shíqī, yī wèi cáimào shuāngquán de nǚzǐ lǐ fūrén, yīn qí měimào ér wénmíng. tā de yīpín yīxiào, dōu zúyǐ qīngdǎo zhòngshēng. hàn wǔdì duì tā chǒng'ài yǒujiā, hòugōng jiālì sānqiān, yě nányǐ yǔ tā xiāngbǐ. lǐ fūrén de měimào, bùjǐn shǐ hàn wǔdì shénhún diāndǎo, gèngshì ràng zhěnggè cháoting wèi zhī qīngdǎo, hòurén biàn yòng “qīng guó qīng chéng” lái xíngróng tā de měimào, shènzhì liúchuán chū “yīgù qīng rén chéng, zàigù qīng rén guó” de shījù. rán'ér, lǐ fūrén de měimào què yě gěi tā dài lái le bùxìng, tā zuìzhōng yīn bìng zǎoshì, liúxià wújìn de yíhàn.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Lady Li was a woman of exceptional beauty and intelligence. Her charm was so captivating that Emperor Wu showered her with attention, despite the many other women in his palace. Lady Li's beauty was so legendary that she was referred to as '倾国倾城' (qīng guó qīng chéng) - 'the beauty that brings a country to ruin'. This saying attests to her unparalleled allure and beauty, which even captivated the emperor. However, sadly, Lady Li died young.

Usage

多用于形容女子容貌极其美丽。

duō yòng yú xíngróng nǚzǐ róngmào jíqí měilì

Mostly used to describe the extraordinary beauty of a woman.

Examples

• 她的容貌真是倾国倾城。

  tā de róngmào zhēnshi qīng guó qīng chéng

  Her beauty is simply breathtaking.

• 那女子倾国倾城，让无数英雄豪杰为之倾倒。

  nà nǚzi qīng guó qīng chéng, ràng wúshù yīngxióng háojié wèi zhī qīngdǎo

  The girl was breathtakingly beautiful, captivating countless heroes.

Related Idioms

• 绝世佳人

• 国色天香

• 沉鱼落雁

• 闭月羞花

Opposite Idioms

• 奇丑无比

• 其貌不扬