沉鱼落雁chén yú luò yànfig. female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts

1. 1.

   fig. female beauty captivating even the birds and beastsidiom

Figurative meaning

Female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts.

Literal meaning

Fish sink, goose alights.

• 沉to sink
• 鱼fish
• 落to fall or drop
• 雁wild goose

The story

Mao Qiang and Li Ji were people whom humans found beautiful, yet fish that saw them dove deep, birds flew high, and deer ran off; of these four, which knows true beauty in the world?

沉鱼落雁 can praise a woman's beauty in written descriptions, stories, or lighthearted compliments.

1. HSK 4

   这个姑娘沉鱼落雁，大家都说她很漂亮。

   Zhège gūniang chén yú luò yàn, dàjiā dōu shuō tā hěn piàoliang.

   This young woman is stunningly beautiful; everyone says she is very pretty.

2. HSK 5

   这个故事用沉鱼落雁来形容一个姑娘。

   Zhège gùshi yòng chén yú luò yàn lái xíngróng yí ge gūniang.

   This story uses 沉鱼落雁 to describe a young woman's beauty.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你看过这个故事吗？

   Nǐ kànguo zhège gùshi ma?

   Have you read this story?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   看过，里面的姑娘很漂亮。

   Kànguo, lǐmiàn de gūniang hěn piàoliang.

   Yes. The young woman in it is very pretty.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   故事里说她沉鱼落雁。

   Gùshi li shuō tā chén yú luò yàn.

   The story says she is so beautiful that fish sink and geese alight.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   对，就是说她非常美。

   Duì, jiùshì shuō tā fēicháng měi.

   Right, it means she is extremely beautiful.

1. 1.What does 沉鱼落雁 describe?

   AFemale beauty captivating even the birds and beastsBA good place to go fishingCBad weather by a lake
2. 2.Which sentence uses 沉鱼落雁 correctly?

   A这个姑娘沉鱼落雁，大家都说她很漂亮。B这道数学题沉鱼落雁。C我们沉鱼落雁地跑步。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 故事里的姑娘____，非常美。 (The young woman in the story is stunningly beautiful.)

   A沉鱼落雁B脱颖而出C班门弄斧

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