Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with these idioms about the moon
中秋话月，花好月圆
Bèi zhème duō chóngbàizhě zhòngxīng pěngyuè yíyàng de cùyōng zhe, tā gǎndào shífēn mǎnzú.
被这么多崇拜者众星捧月一样地簇拥着，他感到十分满足。
Influenced by the “golden mean” principle (中庸之道) of Confucianism, Chinese people have traditionally appreciated moderation in all things. This idiom, originating from the Book of Changes(《易经》), implies that once something reaches a certain extreme, it will develop in the opposite direction. It’s often used to warn people that nothing good lasts forever:
The full moon wanes, and water overflows. Nothing stays prosperous forever.
Yuè mǎn zé kuī, shuǐ mǎn zé yì. Méiyǒu shénme néng chángshèng bù shuāi.
月满则亏，水满则溢。没有什么能长盛不衰。
Many chengyu reference both the moon and flowers, though they each have a different meaning. Some moon-and-flower chengyu are associated with romance. This one used to be a shorthand for classical literature, which often depicted nature themes, and for effete and sentimental writing in general. Now, it implies a romantic relationship:
Tā tài máng le, méi shíjiān qù kǎolǜ nàxiē fēnghuā xuěyuè de shì.
她太忙了，没时间去考虑那些风花雪月的事。
This chengyu also refers to love affairs, as it describes an ideal location for romantic couples:
Some chengyu invoke the moon and flowers to describe stunning beauty:
I fell in love at the first sight of her breathtaking beauty.
Sometimes, a woman is so beautiful that people don’t even feel that flowers or the moon deserve to be compared with her, hence this chengyu. The phrase “outshines the moon” is usually associated with the beauty Diao Chan from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, while “puts the flowers to shame” describes Yang Yuhuan of the Tang dynasty, both of whom are among ancient China’s “four great beauties.”
Flowers and the moon can also invoke philosophical musings. This chengyu originally referred to elusive images or moods in poetry, but now describes a beautiful illusion.
Xīànzài xiǎnglái, nàxiē rónghuá fùguì búguò shì jìnghuā-shuǐyuè.
现在想来，那些荣华富贵不过是镜花水月。
This phrase uses flowers and the moon to express contentment and happiness. It is mostly used as a complimentary wish for newly wed couples.
Cover image from VCG
This story is from our archives. It was originally published in September 2021 and has been lightly edited and updated for relevancy and accuracy.
Related Posts:
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations Through the Ages | Photo Story
More Than Mooncakes: Fresh Ways to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival
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