Definition
芳草 literally means 'fragrant grass/herb', but in classical and literary Chinese it is a conventional metaphor for a person of noble character and virtue — especially a gentleman (君子). You'll encounter it in poetry, essays, and formal writing, where it carries an elevated, refined tone. In modern usage, it can also refer to aromatic plants in a garden or natural setting.
n.
fragrant herb or plant (literal)(literary) a person of esteemed virtuegentlemanly character
Examples
- ，芳草，。Chūntiān lái le, fāng cǎo biàndì, jǐngsè yírén.Spring has arrived; fragrant grass is everywhere, and the scenery is delightful.
- 芳草。Gǔrén cháng yǐ fāng cǎo bǐyù jūnzǐ de gāoshàng pǐndé.The ancients often used 'fragrant grass' as a metaphor for a gentleman's noble character.
- 芳草，。Zhè piàn yuánzi lǐ zhòng mǎn le gè zhǒng fāng cǎo, xiāngqì pū bí.This garden is planted with all kinds of fragrant herbs, their aroma wafting to the nose.
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