淡妆浓抹
dàn zhuāng nóng mǒ
lightly or richly made up, lovely either way (often of scenery)
Character by character
淡dàn
light
light
妆zhuāng
make-up
make-up
浓nóng
heavy
heavy
抹mǒ
paint
paint
Example
这座古镇晴天有晴天的美，雨天有雨天的味道，真是淡妆浓抹总相宜。
The old town is lovely in sunshine and has its own charm in the rain: beautiful whatever it wears.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From 苏轼’s poem on 西湖 in sunshine and rain (1073): 欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜, “compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Shi: in light make-up or heavy, she always looks right”. Usually quoted with 总相宜, of a place, a person or a style that looks good every way.
Learn this in Lesson 92 · HSK 6–7: 苏东坡的宋朝 (Su Dongpo’s Song dynasty)
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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