红颜 (gōng) — a beautiful woman (literary, poetic); a beauty (in classical Chinese literature)
Definition
红颜 (hóng yán) is a literary term for a beautiful woman, almost always used in the fixed phrase 红颜知己 (a close female confidante). Carries a classical, poetic tone — avoid in everyday speech.
noun
a beautiful woman (literary, poetic)a beauty (in classical Chinese literature)
Examples
- 红颜。Tā shì yí wèi qīng guó qīng chéng de gōng.She is a stunning beauty who could topple cities.
- 红颜。Zì gǔ gōng duō bó mìng.Since ancient times, beautiful women often have ill fate.
- 红颜。Zhè shǒu shī miáo xiě le yí wèi gōng de bēi cǎn mìng yùn.This poem describes the tragic fate of a beautiful woman.
Appears in
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