Chinese idiom · 成语
倾国倾城
Meaning
To topple kingdoms and cities; breathtaking beauty.
Character by character
Origin and story
Poetic imageThe Hanshu (漢書), volume 97, preserves Li Yannian’s song about an incomparable northern beauty. One glance can overturn a city, another a kingdom; even with that danger, such beauty is hard to find again. The associated court account says Princess Pingyang tells Emperor Wu of Li Yannian’s younger sister, who is then summoned and wins his favor.
The later idiom condenses the song’s spectacular imagery into praise of extraordinary beauty. The falling city and kingdom are poetic exaggerations, not evidence that the woman literally destroyed them. Although its historical imagery links beauty and political danger, the usual modern expression describes someone stunningly beautiful, particularly in literary or deliberately elaborate praise.
In everyday life
看到姐姐的婚纱照，我开玩笑地说：这简直是倾国倾城。
When I saw my sister's wedding photos, I joked, 'This is absolutely breathtaking beauty.'
Strongly literary or exaggerated praise, traditionally of a woman's beauty; too grand for a neutral description.