文采斐然

wén cǎi fěi rán

adjective★Intermediate💡 brilliant literary talent◆idiom

◆ What It Really Means

To describe someone's exceptional ability to write with fluency, elegance, and expressive power, often implying a natural gift for language and literature.

¶ Literal Meaning

Literary grace is flourishing and elegant.

Literal Breakdown

文采literary grace or talent+斐然flourishing, elegant, or impressive

◇ Mental Image

Imagine a piece of writing that flows like a river, with words arranged in perfect harmony, each sentence polished and graceful, evoking admiration and awe.

◈ When to Use

At a literary conference, a renowned poet is introduced as '文采斐然的大师' (a master of brilliant literary talent) by the host. The audience nods in agreement, recognizing the poet's exceptional ability to craft elegant and moving verses.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the deep cultural value placed on literary talent in Chinese history. Classical Chinese literature emphasizes the harmony of form and content, and '文采' (literary grace) is a hallmark of refined writing. The Tang Dynasty, in particular, was a golden age for poetry, where poets like Li Bai and Du Fu were celebrated for their '文采斐然' style.

formal

Having exceptionally fluent, elegant, and expressive writing skills, often used to describe someone's literary or artistic talent.

苏轼的诗文文采斐然，流传千古。

Su Shi's poems and essays are brimming with literary talent and have been passed down for millennia.

她的散文文采斐然，语言优美动人。

Her essays are marked by brilliant literary talent, with beautiful and moving language.

💡

Often used in literary, academic, or artistic contexts to praise someone's writing ability. Not used for casual speech.

Collocations

文采斐然的作家a writer of brilliant literary talent文采斐然的文章an article of elegant prose文采斐然的诗人a poet of exquisite talent

Synonyms

才华横溢才思敏捷下笔成章

Antonyms

词不达意语无伦次文理不通

Related Phrases

才高八斗idiom

extremely talented (lit. having talent as vast as eight measures of rice)

出口成章idiom

speak with eloquence and fluency

下笔如有神idiom

write with the ease of a divine hand

💡Pro Tip

Usage Tip

This idiom is best used when praising someone's writing or literary talent in formal contexts. It is not suitable for casual conversations or describing non-literary skills.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

Do not use '文采斐然' to describe every talented writer. Reserve it for those with exceptional, standout literary talent.

📖Word Origin

The idiom originates from the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu's poem '奉赠韦左丞丈二十二韵', where he describes a person's literary talent as '斐然成章' (fluent and well-structured writing). The phrase '文采斐然' combines '文采' (literary talent) and '斐然' (flourishing, elegant) to emphasize exceptional writing skill.

📝Usage Notes

Primarily used in written or formal spoken Chinese to describe someone's literary or artistic talent. Avoid using it for casual conversations or to describe non-literary skills.

Word Breakdown

文采

literary talent, literary grace

noun

斐然

flourishing, elegant, impressive

adjective

汉英词典