春风化雨
春风化雨 (chūn fēng huà yǔ) literally means “spring wind becomes rain” and expresses “gentle, nurturing influence”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: chun feng hua yu, chun feng hua yu,春风化雨 meaning, 春风化雨 in english
Gentle, nurturing influence
Pronunciation: chūn fēng huà yǔ
Literal meaning: Spring wind becomes rain
Origin & Usage
This poetic metaphor traces back to the Han Dynasty's educational philosophy, where ideal teaching was compared to spring winds (春风) transforming into nurturing rain (化雨). The imagery draws from agricultural wisdom – spring breezes and gentle rains nurture plants without forcing growth. Scholar Han Yu popularized this concept during the Tang Dynasty, describing how effective mentors influence students subtly and naturally. Modern educators still reference this idiom when discussing student-centered learning approaches that prioritize gentle guidance over rigid instruction.
Examples
English: "The teacher's patient guidance slowly transformed the struggling student"
Chinese: 老师耐心的引导慢慢改变了这个困难学生
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 春风化雨 mean in English?
春风化雨 (chūn fēng huà yǔ) literally translates to “Spring wind becomes rain” and is used to express “Gentle, nurturing influence”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 春风化雨 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving gentle, nurturing influence.
What is the pinyin for 春风化雨?
The pinyin pronunciation for 春风化雨 is “chūn fēng huà yǔ”.