花枝招展
huā zhī zhāo zhǎn
gorgeously dressed; dressed up to the nines (of women)
Character by character
花huā
flower
flower
枝zhī
branch
branch
招zhāo
wave
wave
展zhǎn
spread
spread
Example
过年那天，村里的姑娘们个个打扮得花枝招展。
On New Year’s Day the village girls were all dressed up in their finest.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Like flowering branches swaying in the wind; mostly of women in bright, eye-catching clothes, usually after 打扮得. It can sound a little mocking, so take care using it as a compliment.
Learn this in Lesson 132 · HSK 7–9: 从的确良到汉服 (From Dacron shirts to Hanfu)
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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