諺語 · a single proverb
心花怒放
What does 心花怒放 (xīn huā nù fàng) mean?
心花怒放 (xīn huā nù fàng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "the heart's flowers burst into bloom." In use it means: Overwhelming joy that fills your entire being; happiness so complete it feels physical. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Pig.
Literally: "the heart's flowers burst into bloom."
The reading
There is a kind of happiness that does not just sit in the chest. It blooms. It fills the ribcage and pushes outward until you can feel it in your hands and your face and the way you walk. This is the happiness of news you waited years to hear, or a person you thought you would never see again walking through the door. Let it bloom. It earned the space.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Tang dynasty literary expression; widely used in Chinese vernacular
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 心花怒放 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 心花怒放 (xīn huā nù fàng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Tang dynasty literary expression; widely used in Chinese vernacular. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 心花怒放?
In Mandarin it is xīn huā nù fàng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 心花怒放 aloud in Mandarin.