nghiêng thành đổ nước
Definition
Idiom: - To cause cities to fall and kingdoms to topple: A classical idiom describing a woman of extraordinary, devastating beauty. It originates from a Han Dynasty poem praising a beauty whose single glance could make a city crumble and whose second glance could topple a kingdom. It signifies beauty so powerful it can lead to the ruin of states.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Sắc đẹp của nàng được ví như nghiêng thành đổ nước. (Her beauty was likened to one that could cause cities to fall and kingdoms to topple.)
- Trong lịch sử có những giai nhân nghiêng thành đổ nước. (History has beauties whose looks could topple cities and states.)
Advanced Usage
- The idiom is often used in literary, historical, or highly formal contexts to describe legendary or historical beauties, emphasizing a dangerous, catastrophic level of allure.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe anything of overwhelmingly captivating and potentially destructive power.
Variants and Related Words
- Khuynh thành (idiom): To cause the city to tilt/fall; a shorter form referring to devastating beauty.
- Khuynh quốc (idiom): To cause the kingdom to tilt/fall; another shorter form with the same meaning.
Synonyms
- Devastating beauty: Beauty that overwhelms and causes ruin.
- Spellbinding beauty: Beauty that enchants completely.
- Face that launched a thousand ships: (English idiom) A beauty that causes great conflicts.
Related Idioms
- Hồng nhan họa thủy: (A beautiful face brings disaster like floodwaters.) A related Vietnamese idiom stating that great beauty often leads to trouble or calamity.
- Một người làm rung chuyển cả triều đình: (One person shakes the entire court.) Describing someone with immense influence, not limited to beauty.