红极一时 (hóng jí yì shí) — to be extremely popular for a period (of a person, trend, or phenomenon); to have one's moment in the spotlight

Definition

Idiom for someone or something that enjoyed a brief peak of huge popularity, then faded. Highlights that the fame was temporary — unlike lasting 著名 or 闻名.

idiom
to be extremely popular for a period (of a person, trend, or phenomenon)to have one's moment in the spotlight

Examples

  • 2080红极一时，。
    Nà wèi gē xīng zài 20 shì jì 80 nián dài hóng jí yì shí, dàn hòu lái jiù méi rén jì de le.
    That singer was all the rage in the 1980s, but later no one remembered him.
  • 红极一时。
    Zhè zhǒng fú zhuāng shè jì zhī hóng jí yì shí le liǎng nián.
    This style of clothing design was only super popular for two years.
  • 红极一时，。
    Nà ge shǒu jī pǐn pái céng jīng hóng jí yì shí, xiàn zài yǐ jīng bèi táo tài le.
    That mobile phone brand was once all the rage, but now it's been phased out.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng紅hóng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 is a later shorthand.

Open 红 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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