阳春白雪
阳春白雪 (yáng chūn bái xuě) literally means “bright spring and white snow” and expresses “refined art appreciated by few”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: yang chun bai xue, yang chun bai xue,阳春白雪 meaning, 阳春白雪 in english
Refined art appreciated by few
Pronunciation: yáng chūn bái xuě Literal meaning: Bright spring and white snow
Origin & Usage
From Song Yu's Reply to the King of Chu (宋玉《对楚王问》), from the Warring States period. Asked why so few people praised him, Song Yu described a singer in the capital: when he sang the popular tune 'Lower Village and Ba People' (下里巴人) thousands joined in, but when he sang the refined 'Bright Spring' and 'White Snow' only a few dozen could follow — 'the higher the song, the fewer who can join it' (其曲弥高，其和弥寡). The idiom names sophisticated art with a small audience and is usually set against 下里巴人, popular art. Its 阳 (yáng) is a homophone of 羊, the goat, the same sound that turns 三阳开泰 into 三羊开泰.
Examples
English: "The experimental opera was pure bright-spring-and-white-snow — brilliant, but half the audience left."
Chinese: 这部作品太阳春白雪了，普通观众很难欣赏。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
三阳开泰
sān yáng kāi tài
A fortunate new beginning
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吉祥止止
jí xiáng zhǐ zhǐ
Blessings settle where the mind is calm
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洛阳纸贵
luò yáng zhǐ guì
Extraordinary popularity of intellectual work
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喜气洋洋
xǐ qì yáng yáng
Radiating happiness
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吉祥如意
jí xiáng rú yì
Good fortune and fulfilment
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洋洋大观
yáng yáng dà guān
A rich and impressive array
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美意延年
měi yì yán nián
Cheerfulness brings a long life
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白手起家
bái shǒu qǐ jiā
Build up from nothing; self-made
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 阳春白雪 mean in English?
阳春白雪 (yáng chūn bái xuě) literally translates to “Bright spring and white snow” and is used to express “Refined art appreciated by few”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 阳春白雪 used?
Situation: The experimental opera was pure bright-spring-and-white-snow — brilliant, but half the audience left.
What is the pinyin for 阳春白雪?
The pinyin pronunciation for 阳春白雪 is “yáng chūn bái xuě”.