# 光风霁月

guāng fēng jì yuè

Be open, clear, and generous in character

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A fresh breeze and a moon after clearing rain

**Traditional Chinese:** 光風霽月

**Register:** Literary · formal

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Use a literary image to praise an unclouded, open manner.

It is elevated praise rather than ordinary weather description.

## The image & its use

A clear evening after rain supplies a picture of freshness and openness. The expression commonly carries that atmosphere into a description of someone's character: generous, straightforward, and free of petty calculation. It can also evoke a pleasing natural scene. The literary tone suits thoughtful praise more than a routine greeting. Name the actions that support the compliment, since an elegant image alone cannot show whether a person has acted fairly in a particular situation.

## Examples

他待人坦诚，有光风霁月之风。

### Traditional Chinese

他待人坦誠，有光風霽月之風。

tā dài rén tǎn chéng ， yǒu guāng fēng jì yuè zhī fēng 。

He treats people openly and with a generous spirit.

这篇文章让人感到光风霁月的胸怀。

### Traditional Chinese

這篇文章讓人感到光風霽月的胸懷。

zhè piān wén zhāng ràng rén gǎn dào guāng fēng jì yuè de xiōng huái 。

The article conveys an open and generous outlook.

雨后的庭院颇有光风霁月之美。

### Traditional Chinese

雨後的庭院頗有光風霽月之美。

yǔ hòu de tíng yuàn pō yǒu guāng fēng jì yuè zhī měi 。

The courtyard after rain has a fresh and clear beauty.

光风霁月的赞语要有实际行动作依据。

### Traditional Chinese

光風霽月的讚語要有實際行動作依據。

guāng fēng jì yuè de zàn yǔ yào yǒu shí jì xíng dòng zuò yī jù 。

Praise for an open character should rest on actual conduct.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1113&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%85%89%E9%A2%A8%E9%9C%BD%E6%9C%88)

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