風流

Pronunciation

Adjective

風流

1. distinguished and admirable; elegant and tasteful

   • 搖落深知宋玉悲，風流儒雅亦吾師。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     摇落深知宋玉悲，风流儒雅亦吾师。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 766, Du Fu (杜甫), Poetic Thoughts on Ancient Sites, II (《詠懷古跡·二》). English translation by Witter Bynner.

     Yáoluò shēnzhī Sòng Yù bēi, fēngliú rúyǎ yì wú shī. [Pinyin]

     "Decay and decline": deep knowledge have I of Sung Yu's grief.
     Romantic and refined, he too is my teacher.

2. talented and unrestrained; outstanding

   • 大江東去，浪淘盡，千古風流人物。 [Ci, trad.]
     大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。 [Ci, simp.]

     From: 1088, Su Shi (蘇軾), By the Red Cliffs (《念奴嬌·赤壁懷古》)

     Dàjiāng dōngqù, làng táo jìn, qiāngǔ fēngliú rénwù. [Pinyin]

     Roaring eastward, the Great River,
     Billowing like the force
     Of Time, surges — whose test a true hero has stood.

3. amorous; romantic; relating to affairs

   風流韻事／风流韵事  ―  fēngliúyùnshì  ―  love affair

4. loose; dissolute; licentious; promiscuous

Noun

風流

1. (figurative) (literally, "wind and flow")
   1. influence

      • 自茲以降，風流彌繁。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
        自兹以降，风流弥繁。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

        Zìzī yǐjiàng, fēngliú mí fán. [Pinyin]

        The influences (of ancient hermits) have only increased since those days.

   2. customs; social mores

      • 晚世風流俗敗，嗜欲多，禮義廢，君臣相欺，父子相疑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        晚世风流俗败，嗜欲多，礼义废，君臣相欺，父子相疑。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Huainanzi, 2^nd century BCE

        Wǎn shì fēngliú sú bài, shìyù duō, lǐyì fèi, jūnchén xiāngqī, fùzǐ xiāngyí. [Pinyin]

        In (this) most recent stage of history, customs degenerate. Lust and craving go unchecked, while propriety and justice are abandoned. Rulers and subjects stab each other in the back, while fathers and sons keep an eye on each other's treachery.

   3. manners; conducts; way of life

      • 余故列其風流，區而載之。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
        余故列其风流，区而载之。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

        Yú gù liè qí fēngliú, qū ér zài zhī. [Pinyin]

        Therefore I will go on to narrate their (distinguished) ways of life, each as his own record in history.

      • 然門庭蕭寂，居然有名士風流。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
        然门庭萧寂，居然有名士风流。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

        From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5^th century CE

        Rán méntíng xiāojì, jūrán yǒu míngshì fēngliú. [Pinyin]

        Despite his solitude and meagre means, he nevertheless conducts himself in the ways of a nobleman.

   4. artistic style; taste; character (of works of art)

      • 其體制風流，莫不相襲。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        其体制风流，莫不相袭。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: c. 3rd century, Ji Kang (嵇康), Ode to the Qin (《琴賦》)

        Qí tǐzhì fēngliú, mò bù xiāngxí. [Pinyin]

        Their forms and styles evolve,
        Informed by each other.

Derived terms

Noun

風(ふう)流(りゅう) • (fūryū) 

1. elegance, refinement, grace

   彼(かれ)は風流(ふうりゅう)を解(かい)しない。

   Kare wa fūryū o kaishinai.

   He does not appreciate elegance.

Adjective

風(ふう)流(りゅう) • (fūryū) -na (adnominal 風(ふう)流(りゅう)な (fūryū na), adverbial 風(ふう)流(りゅう)に (fūryū ni))

1. elegant, refined, tasteful

Adjective

風流

1. chữ Hán form of phong lưu (“smart; elegant”).