倾国倾城
倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) literally means “overwhelm city, overwhelm nation” 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: Overwhelm city, overwhelm nation
Origin & Usage
The idiom 倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) originates from the Han dynasty, specifically from the historical text 《汉书》 (Hàn Shū) by Ban Gu (班固). It tells the story of Li Furen (李夫人), a consort of Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝). Li Furen was renowned for her extraordinary beauty, described in a song by her brother, the court musician Li Yannian (李延年). The song praised her as a woman whose single glance could captivate a city (倾城, qīng chéng) and a second glance could enchant a nation (倾国, qīng guó). The emperor was so moved by the song that he summoned Li Furen to the palace, where she became a favored consort. This idiom is used to describe a woman of unparalleled beauty, suggesting that her charm is so powerful it could influence the fate of nations.
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
一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
Learn more →
以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīn
Treat others as yourself
Learn more →
海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
Learn more →
以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
Learn more →
同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
Learn more →
风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
Share hardships together
Learn more →
春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
Learn more →
狐假虎威
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Borrow authority to intimidate
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 倾国倾城 mean in English?
倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) literally translates to “Overwhelm city, overwhelm nation” 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”.