大红大紫
dà hóng dà zǐ
hugely popular; at the height of fame
Character by character
大dà
great
great
红hóng
red
red
大dà
great
great
紫zǐ
purple
purple
Example
她凭一部电视剧大红大紫，走到哪儿都有人认出她。
One TV series made her a huge star, and people recognise her wherever she goes.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The colours are usually explained as the red and purple robes of high officials in imperial China, so the phrase suggests eminence; today it means fame. Said of singers, actors, athletes, even products, often with a hint that fame does not last: 曾经大红大紫的明星. Colloquial; compare 红极一时 (lesson 4-10), which looks back on fame that has passed.
Learn this in Lesson 147 · HSK 7–9: 冬奥之后的冰雪 (Ice and snow after the Winter Olympics)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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