自古紅顏多薄命

See also: 自古红颜多薄命

Chinese

		from time immemorial; since ancient times	pretty face; rosy complexion; beautiful woman	many; much; a lot of many; much; a lot of; numerous; multi-	born under an unlucky star; born unlucky; ill-fated
trad. (自古紅顏多薄命)		自古	紅顏	多	薄命
simp. (自古红颜多薄命)		自古	红颜	多	薄命
Literally: “From ancient times, many with a rosy countenance have been ill-fated.”

Etymology

From the Journey to the West.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zìgǔ hóngyán duō bómìng

  (Zhuyin): ㄗˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zìgǔ hóngyán duō bómìng
    • Zhuyin: ㄗˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: zìhgǔ hóngyán duo bómìng
    • Wade–Giles: tzŭ⁴-ku³ hung²-yen² to¹ po²-ming⁴
    • Yale: dz̀-gǔ húng-yán dwō bwó-mìng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzyhguu horngyan duo borminq
    • Palladius: цзыгу хунъянь до бомин (czygu xunʺjanʹ do bomin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sz̩⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

Proverb

自古紅顏多薄命

1. since ancient times, beautiful women have often been ill-fated