燕瘦环肥 Slender Swallow, Plump Yang Guifei
Explanation
燕瘦环肥原指燕子般苗条和杨贵妃般丰腴两种不同的女子体态美，后形容女子体态不同，各有千秋。
'Yan Shou Huan Fei' originally referred to the slender figure of a swallow and the voluptuous figure of Empress Yang Guifei, two different types of female beauty. Later, it was used to describe different female body shapes, each with its own unique charm.
Origin Story
唐朝时期，杨贵妃以其丰腴之美闻名天下，而赵飞燕则以其轻盈的体态著称。两人风格迥异，却都以各自独特的魅力倾倒众生。后世人将她们二人并称“环肥燕瘦”，以此来形容女子体态各异，各有千秋。这故事流传至今，成为人们赞美女性多样化的美的一种象征。后世文人墨客也常以此成语来赞美女子体态美，比如苏轼的诗中就有“短长肥瘦各有态，玉环飞燕谁敢憎”的句子。这不仅展现了唐朝时期开放包容的审美观念，也体现了人们对女性美的多元化理解和欣赏。
During the Tang Dynasty, Yang Guifei was known throughout the land for her voluptuous beauty, while Zhao Feiyan was famed for her graceful figure. The two women had strikingly different styles, yet both captivated people with their unique charms. Later generations combined their names as “Huan Fei Yan Shou” to describe the diversity of female beauty, each with their own unique appeal. This story continues to be told, symbolizing the celebration of a diversity of feminine beauty. Later writers and poets often used this idiom to praise the beauty of women's figures. For example, Su Shi's poem includes the line 'Each has its own beauty, whether tall, short, fat, or thin; who dares to dislike Yuhuan and Feiyan?', reflecting the open and inclusive aesthetics of the Tang Dynasty, and demonstrating people's understanding and appreciation for the diverse aspects of female beauty.
Usage
形容女子体态不同，各有千秋。
describes different female body shapes, each with its own unique charm.
Examples
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这两种不同风格的绘画作品，可谓是'燕瘦环肥'，各有千秋。
zhè liǎng zhǒng bù tóng fēnggé de huìhuà zuòpǐn, kě wèi shì 'yàn shòu huán féi', gè yǒu qiān qiū.
These two paintings of different styles can be described as 'Yan Shou Huan Fei', each with its own unique charm.
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舞台上，两位演员，一位清丽脱俗，一位丰满妖娆，真是'燕瘦环肥'，各有韵味。
wǔtái shàng, liǎng wèi yǎnyuán, yī wèi qīnglì tuōsú, yī wèi fēngmǎn yāoráo, zhēn shì 'yàn shòu huán féi', gè yǒu yùnwèi
On stage, two actresses, one delicate and elegant, the other plump and enchanting, are a true example of 'Yan Shou Huan Fei', each with their own unique charm.