Definition
淑女 (shū nǚ) is a classical Chinese ideal of a refined, virtuous, and well-mannered woman, often associated with the Confucian feminine virtues of gentleness, propriety, and moral integrity. The term appears in the Classic of Poetry (《诗经》) and carries a literary, somewhat nostalgic tone in modern usage — it's not a neutral synonym for 'woman' but a compliment invoking traditional elegance.
n.
a refined and virtuous woman (classical ideal)
Examples
- ，，淑女。Tā jǔzhǐ yōuyǎ, tántǔ détǐ, kān chēng yí wèi zhēnzhèng de shū nǚ.Her manners are elegant and her speech is proper — she can be called a true refined lady.
- 《》“淑女，逑”。《Shījīng》 zhōng nà jù “yǎotiǎo shū nǚ, jūnzǐ hǎo qiú” liúchuán zhìjīn.That line from the Classic of Poetry — 'A graceful refined lady is a good match for a gentleman' — has been passed down to this day.
- ，淑女。Xiàndài shèhuì zhōng, shū nǚ de biāozhǔn yǐjīng fāshēng le biànhuà.In modern society, the standard for a refined lady has already changed.
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