bai3 jyut6 sau1 faa1閉月羞花闭月羞花
Jyutpingbai3 jyut6 sau1 faa1
Yalebai yuht sāu fā
Definition
Exceedingly beautiful; describing a woman so lovely that she outshines the moon and flowers.
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How it's used
This idiom is a classic literary expression used to describe extreme feminine beauty. It is rarely used in casual, everyday speech because it sounds highly formal and slightly dramatic. When used in conversation, it often carries a playful or exaggerated tone, sometimes even used sarcastically to tease someone who is dressing up for a special occasion.
Examples
She was already stunningly beautiful when she was a child.
What girl wouldn't want to be breathtakingly beautiful?
Related words
Common phrases
born with breathtaking beauty
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard adjective like 靚, but using it in a casual setting can make you sound like you are reading from a historical novel. Avoid using it to describe men, as it is strictly reserved for female beauty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
