金风玉露

Pronunciation: jīn fēng yù lù
Literal meaning: Golden wind jade dew

Origin & Usage

This poetic idiom pairs golden (金) autumn wind (风) with jade-like (玉) dew (露), dating from Tang Dynasty nature poetry. It captures the crystalline clarity of fall mornings when the first cool breezes meet with early dew, traditionally considered the most beautiful moments of the year. The combination of precious materials (gold and jade) with natural phenomena created a metaphor for perfect timing and natural harmony. Modern usage often describes ideal moments or perfect conditions, particularly those that arise from natural timing rather than forced arrangement. It appears frequently in literature and art celebrating fleeting moments of natural beauty.

Examples

English: "The market conditions were ideal for launching the new product"

Chinese: 市场条件非常适合推出新产品

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