楚楚 (chǔ chǔ) — (in fixed phrases) delicately beautiful, touching, or pitifully cute (as in 楚楚动人, 楚楚可怜); (in fixed phrases) neatly dressed, elegant (as in 衣冠楚楚)
Definition
楚楚 is a bound literary word used only inside set phrases: 楚楚动人 / 楚楚可怜 (pitifully charming) and 衣冠楚楚 (immaculately dressed). It never stands alone and carries a vivid, slightly emotive tone.
bound form
(in fixed phrases) delicately beautifultouchingor pitifully cute (as in 楚楚动人, 楚楚可怜)(in fixed phrases) neatly dressedelegant (as in 衣冠楚楚)
Examples
- ，。Tā zhàn zài wǔ tái shàng, xiǎn de chǔ chǔ dòng rén.She stood on stage, looking delicately beautiful and moving.
- 楚楚，。Nà ge xiǎo nǚ hái yì liǎn chǔ chǔ kě lián de yàng zi, ràng rén xīn téng.That little girl looked so pitifully cute, it tugged at your heartstrings.
- ，。Miàn shì shí tā yī guān chǔ chǔ, gěi rén liú xià hǎo yìn xiàng.At the interview he was immaculately dressed, leaving a good impression.
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