Chinese word

绘声绘色

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuì shēng huì sè

Meaning

  • idiomvivid

Example

她的描述绘声绘色，让人仿佛在场。tā de miáo shù huì shēng huì sè ràng rén fǎng fú zài chǎng

Her description is so vivid that it makes people feel as if they were there.

Illustration for 绘声绘色 (vivid)

More examples

他把旅行见闻讲得绘声绘色，大家都听得很入迷。tā bǎ lǚ xíng jiàn wén jiǎng de huì shēng huì sè dà jiā dōu tīng de hěn rù mí

He spoke so vividly about what he had seen and heard on his trip that everyone listened, completely absorbed.

Core concept

A speaker or writer makes an imagined scene seem present by supplying its sights, sounds, and vivid details.

Common phrases

  • 讲得绘声绘色jiǎng de huì shēng huì sè

    speak vividly

  • 描述得绘声绘色miáo shù de huì shēng huì sè

    describe vividly

Similar words

栩栩如生xú xǔ rú shēng: Gives a picture or description a lifelike quality, making the subject seem almost alive.
活灵活现huó líng huó xiàn: Brings a person, object, or scene to life through a vivid and lively portrayal.
惟妙惟肖wéi miào wéi xiào: Shows a subject with a remarkably accurate likeness, including small details.
传神chuán shén: Conveys the unique spirit of a person or subject through a vivid portrayal.

Definition in Chinese

形容叙述或描写非常生动，使人仿佛亲眼所见或亲耳所闻。xíng róng xù shù huò miáo xiě fēi cháng shēng dòng shǐ rén fǎng fú qīn yán suǒ jiàn huò qīn ér suǒ wén

Word origin

绘声绘色 (huìshēnghuìsè, "vividly depict sound and color") pairs 绘 (huì, "depict") with 声 (shēng, "sound") and 色 (sè, "color"), extending visual depiction to the sounds and details of a scene.

Usage tips

  • This idiom often comments on storytelling as a whole, so it can describe either an engaging spoken account or a lively written description.

Opposites

  • 枯燥无味kū zào wú wèiboring and tastelessidiom
  • 平淡无奇píng dàn wú qíplain and unremarkableidiom

Word lists with this word