ancient beauty; paragon of beauty
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
Xishi (a legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn Period)
Refers specifically to the historical figure, one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China. Legend says her beauty was so great that it made fish sink and geese fall from the sky (沉鱼落雁).
Xī西
Shī施
shì是
Zhōng中
Guó国
gǔ古
dài代
sì四
dà大
měi美
nǚ女
zhī之
yī一
。
Xishi is one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China.
Yuè越
wáng王
Gōu勾
Jiàn践
bǎ把
Xī西
Shī施
xiàn献
gěi给
le了
Wú吴
wáng王
Fū夫
Chāi差
。
King Goujian of Yue presented Xishi to King Fuchai of Wu.
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Chuán传
shuō说
Xī西
Shī施
yǒu有
chén沉
yú鱼
luò落
yàn雁
zhī之
mào貌
。
Legend has it that Xishi possessed looks that could make fish sink and geese fall.
noun
a paragon of beauty; beautiful woman; belle
literaryUsed figuratively to refer to any woman of extraordinary beauty, not just the historical figure. Also known as 西子 (Xizi). This usage is more common in literary or formal contexts.
Zhè这
wèi位
yǎn演
yuán员
bèi被
yù誉
wéi为
xiàn现
dài代
de的
Xī西
Shī施
。
This actress is praised as the modern Xishi, a paragon of beauty for our times.
Tā她
mào貌
měi美
rú如
Xī西
Shī施
，
lìng令
rén人
qīng倾
dǎo倒
。
She is as beautiful as Xishi, captivating everyone who sees her.