含苞待放
hán bāo dài fàng
in bud and about to bloom; (fig.) on the verge of blossoming
Character by character
含hán
hold
hold
苞bāo
bud
bud
待dài
await
await
放fàng
open
open
Example
阳台上的月季含苞待放，再过两天就该开了。
The roses on the balcony are in bud and should open in a couple of days.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Mostly of flowers, for the moment just before they open; 含苞欲放 means the same. Older literary writing also uses it of a girl in her early teens, a usage that now sounds dated.
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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