花枝招展 (huā zhī zhāo zhǎn) — (idiom) gorgeously dressed (of a woman); dressed in one's finest, often with a flamboyant or showy connotation

Definition

A vivid 成语 describing a woman dressed in flashy, flamboyant finery — typically with a slightly showy or exaggerated tone, not just simple prettiness.

idiom
gorgeously dressed (of a woman)dressed in one's finest, often with a flamboyant or showy connotation

Examples

  • 花枝招展，。
    Tā jīn tiān chuān dé huā zhī zhāo zhǎn de, xī yǐn le suǒ yǒu rén de mù guāng.
    She is dressed gorgeously today, attracting everyone's attention.
  • ，花枝招展，。
    Hūn lǐ shàng, xīn niáng huā zhī zhāo zhǎn, fēi cháng měi lì.
    At the wedding, the bride was gorgeously dressed, very beautiful.
  • 花枝招展，。
    Tā zǒng shì dǎ bàn dé huā zhī zhāo zhǎn, ràng rén jué de hěn kuā zhāng.
    She always dresses flamboyantly, making people feel it's too exaggerated.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Open 花 →

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī枝zhī
Same sound today

枝 shows 木 (tree) beside 支, which gives the sound.

Open 枝 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào招zhāo
Same sound today

招 pairs 扌, the hand part, with 召, which gives the sound, to show beckoning with the hand.

Open 招 →

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
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧝑
𧝑𧝑展zhǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.

Open 展 →

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