# 光怪陆离

guāng guài lù lí

Bizarre, dazzling, and varied

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Strange lights and bewildering forms

**Traditional Chinese:** 光怪陸離

**Register:** Standard · expressive

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

## When to use it

Describe an unusual, visually or socially bewildering scene.

Can express fascination as well as criticism.

## Understanding the expression

The expression brings together unusual light and shapes that seem hard to classify. It can describe surreal scenery, a dream, or a social world full of strange contrasts. Its vividness does not always imply ugliness: a dazzling artistic display may be fascinating precisely because it is unfamiliar. In criticism, the same phrase suggests bewildering excess. The subject should have striking variety or strangeness rather than merely being colorful in an ordinary way.

## Examples

梦里的城市光怪陆离。

### Traditional Chinese

夢裡的城市光怪陸離。

mèng lǐ de chéng shì guāng guài lù lí 。

The city in the dream was bizarre and dazzling.

展厅布满光怪陆离的装置。

### Traditional Chinese

展廳佈滿光怪陸離的裝置。

zhǎn tīng bù mǎn guāng guài lù lí de zhuāng zhì 。

The exhibition hall was full of strange, dazzling installations.

夜市灯影光怪陆离。

### Traditional Chinese

夜市燈影光怪陸離。

yè shì dēng yǐng guāng guài lù lí 。

The night market’s lights formed a bewildering display.

小说描写了光怪陆离的都市生活。

### Traditional Chinese

小說描寫了光怪陸離的都市生活。

xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le guāng guài lù lí de dū shì shēng huó 。

The novel depicts the city’s bizarre and varied life.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%85%89%E6%80%AA%E9%99%B8%E9%9B%A2)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=808&webMd=1&la=0)

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