天花乱坠
天花乱坠 (tiān huā luàn zhuì) literally means “heavenly flowers fall chaotically” and expresses “exaggerated speech”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tian hua luan zhui, tian hua luan zhui,天花乱坠 meaning, 天花乱坠 in english
Exaggerated speech
Pronunciation: tiān huā luàn zhuì Literal meaning: Heavenly flowers fall chaotically
Origin & Usage
The idiom 天花乱坠 (tiān huā luàn zhuì) originates from a Buddhist scripture, 《心地观经·序品偈》, translated during the Tang dynasty. It describes a scene where heavenly flowers (天花) fall chaotically (乱坠) from the sky, filling the empty space. This imagery was later used in a story about the Southern Dynasties' Liang Emperor Wu, who was deeply influenced by Buddhist teachings. A monk claimed that a sermon was so moving that it caused flowers to fall from the heavens. The emperor was captivated by this tale, illustrating how people can be swayed by eloquent but exaggerated speech. In modern usage, the idiom describes speech that is beautifully crafted yet exaggerated and unrealistic, often used to caution against being misled by persuasive but untruthful words.
Examples
English: "Her speech was so beautiful that it captivated everyone in the audience."
Chinese: 她的演讲天花乱坠，令人陶醉。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 天花乱坠 mean in English?
天花乱坠 (tiān huā luàn zhuì) literally translates to “Heavenly flowers fall chaotically” and is used to express “Exaggerated speech”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 天花乱坠 used?
Situation: Her speech was so beautiful that it captivated everyone in the audience.
What is the pinyin for 天花乱坠?
The pinyin pronunciation for 天花乱坠 is “tiān huā luàn zhuì”.