国色天香
guó sè tiān xiāng
(of the peony) of matchless beauty and scent; (of a woman) a great beauty
Character by character
国guó
nation
nation
色sè
beauty
beauty
天tiān
heaven
heaven
香xiāng
fragrance
fragrance
Example
这几株牡丹开得正好，真称得上国色天香。
These peonies are in full flower and truly deserve to be called the beauty of the nation.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
First said of the peony: in a Tang anecdote, asked which peony poem sung in the capital was the best, the court painter 程修己 picked 李正封’s lines 天香夜染衣，国色朝酣酒. Later also of a woman of rare beauty; today it is said mostly of flowers, and of a woman it sounds literary or playful.
Learn this in Lesson 169 · HSK 7–9: 市花与市树 (City flowers and city trees)
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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