倾国倾城
倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) literally means “topple a city, topple a kingdom” and expresses “unparalleled beauty”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: qing guo qing cheng, qing guo qing cheng,倾国倾城 meaning, 倾国倾城 in english
Unparalleled beauty
Pronunciation: qīng guó qīng chéng Literal meaning: Topple a city, topple a kingdom
Origin & Usage
Li Yannian sang to Emperor Wu of a beauty in the north, standing alone and without equal: one glance and she topples (倾) a city (城), a second glance and she topples a kingdom (国). The emperor asked whether such a woman existed; she was the singer's sister, and she entered the palace. 倾 is the crucial character and the translation usually loses it — not captivating a city but overturning one, the way a state falls. The compliment therefore contains a warning, and classical Chinese was entirely aware of it.
Examples
English: "Her beauty was so captivating that it could bring nations to their knees."
Chinese: 她的美貌倾国倾城，令人心醉神迷。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
倾盖如故
qīng gài rú gù
Instant friendship
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落落大方
luò luò dà fāng
Confident and charming
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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锦上添花
jǐn shàng tiān huā
Enhance existing beauty
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众志成城
zhòng zhì chéng chéng
Unity creates strength
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城门失火
chéng mén shī huǒ
Innocent bystanders suffer from others' problems
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唱空城计
chàng kōng chéng jì
Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 倾国倾城 mean in English?
倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) literally translates to “Topple a city, topple a kingdom” and is used to express “Unparalleled beauty”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 倾国倾城 used?
Situation: Her beauty was so captivating that it could bring nations to their knees.
What is the pinyin for 倾国倾城?
The pinyin pronunciation for 倾国倾城 is “qīng guó qīng chéng”.