Definition
祸水 is a Chinese idiom (成语) that literally means 'disastrous water' but is used figuratively to describe a woman blamed for causing great misfortune or destruction — similar to the English 'femme fatale' or 'Jezebel'. The term carries strong derogatory connotations and often appears in historical or literary contexts where a beautiful woman is held responsible for the fall of a kingdom or dynasty. It's best understood as a fixed metaphor, not a literal flood.
id.
(idiom, derogatory) a woman who brings disasterfemme fatale
Examples
- 祸水。Lìshǐ shū zhōng cháng bǎ wángcháo fùmiè de yuányīn guījiù yú huò shuǐ.Historical books often attribute the fall of a dynasty to a disastrous woman.
- 祸水。Nà bù diànyǐng lǐ tā bànyǎn le yí gè huò shuǐ de juésè.In that movie she played the role of a femme fatale.
- 祸水，。Bú yào suíbiàn bǎ nǚxìng chēng wéi huò shuǐ, zhè hěn bù zūnzhòng.Don't casually call a woman a 'disastrous woman'; it's very disrespectful.
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