草长莺飞
草长莺飞 (cǎo zhǎng yīng fēi) literally means “grass grows, orioles fly” and expresses “springtime vitality”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: cao zhang ying fei, cao zhang ying fei,草长莺飞 meaning, 草长莺飞 in english
Springtime vitality
Pronunciation: cǎo zhǎng yīng fēi Literal meaning: Grass grows, orioles fly
Origin & Usage
Qiu Chi, writing to persuade a defector to come home, gave him the south in three clauses: in late spring, the grass of Jiangnan grows (草长), flowers come out on the trees, and the orioles fly (莺飞) in flocks. It was an argument, not a description — he was reminding the man what he had left. The phrase kept the picture and lost the letter. It now simply names the moment when spring is fully underway, and it is a set phrase in Chinese writing about that season.
Examples
English: "As spring arrives, the landscape transforms, bringing new life and joy."
Chinese: 春天来了，草长莺飞，万物复苏。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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Dynamic elegance
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草木皆兵
cǎo mù jiē bīng
Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere
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风吹草动
fēng chuī cǎo dòng
The slightest sign of disturbance
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良辰美景
liáng chén měi jǐng
A fine occasion and lovely scenery
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千山万水
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A long and arduous journey
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秋高气爽
qiū gāo qì shuǎng
Refreshing and pleasant
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天马行空
tiān mǎ xíng kōng
Unrestrained creativity
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万紫千红
wàn zǐ qiān hóng
Diverse and flourishing
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 草长莺飞 mean in English?
草长莺飞 (cǎo zhǎng yīng fēi) literally translates to “Grass grows, orioles fly” and is used to express “Springtime vitality”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 草长莺飞 used?
Situation: As spring arrives, the landscape transforms, bringing new life and joy.
What is the pinyin for 草长莺飞?
The pinyin pronunciation for 草长莺飞 is “cǎo zhǎng yīng fēi”.