清水出芙蓉 lotus emerging from clear water
Explanation
芙蓉指的是荷花，清水出芙蓉形容事物自然清新、美丽脱俗，多用于描写诗歌、文章或人物形象。
This idiom uses lotus flower (芙蓉) as a metaphor to describe something natural, fresh, and beautiful, often used to describe poetry, writing, or a person's appearance.
Origin Story
唐朝诗人李白，一生放荡不羁，却写下许多清新自然的诗句。传说，有一天，李白泛舟湖上，湖面平静如镜，一朵朵洁白的荷花从水中亭亭玉立地冒出来，像一个个美丽的少女，在微风的轻拂下，轻轻摇曳。李白被这美丽的景象深深地打动，不禁吟诵出“清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰”的千古名句。这句诗，不仅生动地描绘了荷花的美丽，更体现了李白诗歌的风格——自然、清新、脱俗。
Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, was known for his free-spirited lifestyle and his poetry. One day, he was boating on a lake. The surface of the lake was calm, and beautiful white lotuses stood tall and straight in the water, swaying gently in the breeze. Li Bai was deeply moved by the scene. He wrote his famous poem, "清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰", which vividly depicted the beauty of the lotuses and reflected his poetic style: natural, fresh, and elegant.
Usage
常用于形容诗歌、文章、绘画或人物的自然、清新、脱俗之美。
Often used to describe the natural, fresh, and elegant beauty of poetry, articles, paintings, or people's appearance.
Examples
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她的舞姿，如同清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰，美得令人心醉。
tā de wǔzī, rútóng qīngshuǐ chū fúróng, tiānrán qù diāoshì, měi de lìng rén xīnzui.
Her dance was like a lotus flower emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful and unadorned.
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这幅画，水墨写意，清水出芙蓉，别有一番韵味。
zhè fú huà, shuǐmò xiěyì, qīngshuǐ chū fúróng, bié yǒu yī fān yùnwèi.
This painting, with its ink and wash style, is fresh and natural, like a lotus flower emerging from clear water.