Definition
红颜 is a classical Chinese term that literally means 'red face' but refers to a beautiful woman, especially in poetry and literature. It carries strong cultural connotations of youth, beauty, and often tragic fate — the phrase 红颜薄命 ('beautiful women often have ill fate') is a common idiom. This term is not used in everyday conversation; it belongs to literary or historical registers.
n.
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。Zìgǔ gōng duō bó mìng.Since ancient times, beautiful women often have ill fate.
- 红颜。Zhè shǒu shī miáoxiě le yí wèi gōng de bēicǎn mìngyùn.This poem describes the tragic fate of a beautiful woman.
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