素面朝天 sù miàn cháo tiān Plain Face to Heaven

Explanation

素面朝天，指女子不施粉黛，面容自然。原指妇女不施脂粉，入朝觐见天子。现多指女子不化妆，自然清秀的面容。

Literally means 'plain face towards the sky'. Originally referred to women appearing before the emperor without makeup. Now commonly used to describe a woman who is not wearing makeup, appearing naturally pretty.

Origin Story

唐玄宗丧偶之后，偶然在寿王李瑁府中见到杨玉环，惊为天人，便纳入宫中，封其为贵妃，并封其姐妹三人为韩国夫人、虢国夫人、秦国夫人。这三位夫人皆为绝色佳人，尤以虢国夫人最为受宠，她性格豪放，常常素面朝天，不施粉黛地出入宫廷，更显其天生丽质，唐玄宗对其宠爱有加。这便是“素面朝天”典故的由来。

táng xuán zōng sàng ǒu zhī hòu óu rán zài shòu wáng lǐ mào fǔ zhōng jiàn yáng yù huán jīng wéi tiān rén biàn nà rù gōng zhōng fēng qí wèi guì fēi bìng fēng qí jiě mèi sān rén wèi hán guó fū rén guó guó fū rén qín guó fū rén zhè sān wèi fū rén jiē wéi jué sè jiā rén yóu yǐ guó guó fū rén zuì wéi shòu chǒng tā xìng gé háo fàng cháng cháng sù miàn cháo tiān bù shī fěn dài dì chū rù gōng tíng gèng xiǎn qí tiān shēng lì zhì táng xuán zōng duì qí chǒng ài yǒu jiā zhè biàn shì sù miàn cháo tiān diǎn gù de yóu lái

After the death of his wife, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty accidentally saw Yang Guifei at Prince Li Mao's house. He was immediately captivated by her beauty and took her into the palace, making her his imperial concubine. He also ennobled her three sisters as noble ladies. All three were exceptionally beautiful, but Guo Guifei, the emperor's favorite, was particularly beloved. She had an open character and often appeared without makeup and ornaments at court, which only served to highlight her natural beauty. Emperor Xuanzong loved her very much. This is how the idiom “素面朝天” originated.

Usage

用于形容女子不施粉黛，自然清秀的面容。多用于口语。

yòng yú xiáoróng nǚ zǐ bù shī fěn dài zì rán qīng xiù de miàn róng duō yòng yú kǒu yǔ

Used to describe a woman's natural, unadorned beauty. Mostly used in spoken language.

Examples

  • 她素面朝天，却别有一番韵味。

    tā sù miàn cháo tiān què bié yǒu yī fān yùn wèi

    She is beautiful even without makeup.

  • 她今天素面朝天，十分朴素。

    tā jīn tiān sù miàn cháo tiān shí fēn pǔ sù

    She appeared without makeup today, very simple.

Related Idioms

  • 清水出芙蓉

  • 天然去雕饰

Opposite Idioms

  • 浓妆艳抹

  • 精心打扮