涂脂抹粉 tú zhī mǒ fěn put on makeup

Explanation

涂脂抹粉指妇女化妆打扮，也比喻掩盖真相，粉饰太平。

It refers to women applying makeup, but it can also be used metaphorically to cover up the truth and beautify things.

Origin Story

话说古代一位貌美的村姑，名叫小翠。她天生丽质，但因家境贫寒，只能穿粗布衣裳。一日，县令到村里巡视，小翠羞于见人，便偷偷地用从山上采摘的花瓣和浆果自制胭脂，在脸上轻轻涂抹。她又用捣碎的树叶混合着清水，当作粉末，细细地抹在脸上，虽然简陋，却也让她显得精神焕发。她小心翼翼地整理着衣裳，希望给县令留下好印象。县令见她如此朴素却有着自然的美，赞赏有加，还特意为她家送去了粮食。小翠的故事传遍了村子，人们都说她虽然涂脂抹粉，却用自己的勤劳和善良，展现了真实的美，这比那些刻意打扮，却掩盖了自身缺点的人更令人敬佩。

huì shuō gǔdài yī wèi mào měi de cūngū, míng jiào xiǎo cuì。tā tiānshēng lìzhì, dàn yīn jiā jìng pín hán, zhǐ néng chuān cū bù yī shang。yī rì, xiàn lìng dào cūn lǐ xúnshì, xiǎo cuì xiū yú jiàn rén, biàn tōutōu de yòng cóng shān shàng cǎi zhāi de huā bàn hé jiāng guǒ zì zhì yān zhī, zài liǎn shàng qīng qīng tú mǒ。tā yòu yòng dǎo suì de shù yè húnhé zhe qīng shuǐ, dàng zuò fěn mò, xì xì de mǒ zài liǎn shàng, suīrán jiǎnlòu, què yě ràng tā xiǎn de jīngshén huànfā。tā xiǎo xīn yì yì de zhěng lǐ zhe yī shang, xīwàng gěi xiàn lìng liú xià hǎo yìnxiàng。xiàn lìng jiàn tā rú cǐ pǔsù què yǒu zhe zìrán de měi, zànshǎng yǒu jiā, hái tèyì wèi tā jiā sòng qù le liáng shí。xiǎo cuì de gùshì chuán biàn le cūn zi, rén men dōu shuō tā suīrán tú zhī mǒ fěn, què yòng zìjǐ de qínláo hé shànliáng, zhǎnxiàn le zhēnshí de měi, zhè bǐ nà xiē kèyì dǎban, què yǎngài le zìshēn quēdiǎn de rén gèng lìng rén jìng pèi。

Once upon a time, in ancient China, there was a beautiful village girl named Xiao Cui. She was naturally beautiful, but due to her poor family background, she could only wear coarse clothes. One day, the county magistrate came to inspect the village, and Xiao Cui, ashamed to be seen, secretly used flower petals and berries from the mountain to make her own rouge, gently applying it to her face. She also used crushed leaves mixed with water as powder, carefully applying it to her face. Although simple, it made her look refreshed. She carefully arranged her clothes, hoping to make a good impression on the magistrate. The magistrate, seeing her natural beauty despite her simple attire, praised her and even sent grain to her family. Xiao Cui's story spread throughout the village, and people said that although she put on makeup, her diligence and kindness revealed her true beauty, which was more admirable than those who put on elaborate makeup to hide their flaws.

Usage

常用来形容妇女化妆打扮，也比喻掩盖丑恶，粉饰太平。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng fùnǚ huàzhuāng dǎban, yě bǐyù yǎngài chǒu'è, fěn shì tāipíng。

Often used to describe women applying makeup, but also metaphorically to describe covering up ugliness and beautifying things.

Examples

• 她虽然涂脂抹粉，但掩盖不住内心的焦虑。

  tā suīrán tú zhī mǒ fěn, dàn yǎngài bù zhù nèixīn de jiāolǜ。

  Although she put on makeup, she couldn't hide her inner anxiety.

• 舞台上的演员个个涂脂抹粉，光彩照人。

  wǔtái shàng de yǎnyuán gè gè tú zhī mǒ fěn, guāngcǎi zhào rén。

  The actors on the stage were all made up and radiant.

Related Idioms

• 打扮

• 化妆

• 掩饰

Opposite Idioms

• 素面朝天

• 原形毕露