活灵活现 huó líng huó xiàn vivid and lifelike

Explanation

形容描写或表演非常逼真，生动形象，如同真实存在一样。

Describes something as very vivid and lifelike, as if it really exists.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有一位名叫张择端的画家，他技艺精湛，尤其擅长画人物。一日，他受邀为一位富商绘制一幅大型壁画，内容是富商府邸的热闹景象。张择端精心构思，潜心创作，力求将富商府邸的繁华景象栩栩如生地展现出来。他画中的人物个个活灵活现，神态各异，有的在庭院中嬉戏玩耍，有的在楼阁上吟诗作画，有的在花园里赏花品茗，个个生动逼真，仿佛置身于画中一般。壁画完成后，富商啧啧称赞，并将其珍藏在家中。后来，这幅壁画被人们传为佳话，张择端也因此名扬天下。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu yī wèi míng jiào zhāng zé duān de huà jiā, tā jì yì jīng zhàn, yóu qí shàn cháng huà rén wù. yī rì, tā shòu yāo wèi yī wèi fù shāng huì zhì yī fú dà xíng bì huà, nèi róng shì fù shāng fǔ dǐ de rè nào jǐng xiàng. zhāng zé duān jīng xīn gòu sī, qián xīn chuàng zuò, lì qiú jiāng fù shāng fǔ dǐ de fán huá jǐng xiàng xǔ xǔ rú shēng de zhǎn xiàn chū lái. tā huà zhōng de rén wù gè gè huó líng huó xiàn, shén tài gè yì, yǒu de zài tíng yuàn zhōng xī xī wán shuǎ, yǒu de zài lóu gé shàng yín shī zuò huà, yǒu de zài huā yuán lǐ shǎng huā pǐn míng, gè gè shēng dòng bī zhēn, fǎng fú zhì shēn yú huà zhōng yībān. bì huà wán chéng hòu, fù shāng zé zé chēng zàn, bìng qǐng jī zhēn cáng zài jiā zhōng. hòu lái, zhè fú bì huà bèi rén men chuán wéi jiā huà, zhāng zé duān yě yīn cǐ míng yáng tiān xià.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a painter named Zhang Zeduan, who was known for his superb skills, especially in painting people. One day, he was invited to paint a large mural for a wealthy merchant, depicting the bustling scene of the merchant's mansion. Zhang Zeduan carefully designed and devoted himself to the work, striving to vividly depict the prosperity of the merchant's mansion. The characters in his painting were all lifelike, each with a unique expression; some were playing in the courtyard, some were composing poems and painting in the pavilions, others were enjoying flowers and tea in the garden. They were all so vivid that one felt transported into the painting. After the completion of the mural, the merchant praised it highly and kept it as a treasured possession. Later, this mural became a legend, and Zhang Zeduan became famous as a result.

Usage

用于描写人物的神态、动作、语言等，表示生动逼真，栩栩如生。

yòng yú miáoxiě rén wù de shéntài, dòngzuò, yǔyán děng, biǎoshì shēngdòng bīzhēn, xǔxǔrúshēng

Used to describe the expressions, actions, and language of people, expressing vividness and realism.

Examples

• 京剧演员的表演活灵活现，令人赞叹不已。

  jīngjù yǎnyuán de biǎoyǎn huólínghuóxiàn, lìng rén zàntàn bù yǐ

  The Peking Opera actors' performance was so vivid and lifelike, it amazed everyone.

• 他绘声绘色地描述了那次冒险经历，仿佛我们身临其境一般。

  tā huìshēnghuìsè de miáoshù le nà cì màoxiǎn jīnglì, fǎngfú wǒmen shēnlínqíjìng yībān

  He described the adventure vividly, as if we were there ourselves.

Related Idioms

• 栩栩如生

• 绘声绘色

• 有声有色

Opposite Idioms

• 呆板

• 死板