# 国色天香

guó sè tiān xiāng

Possess extraordinary beauty

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** National beauty and heavenly fragrance

**Traditional Chinese:** 國色天香

**Register:** Admiring · literary

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

## When to use it

Use in literary praise of peonies or remarkable beauty.

Poetic and often gendered; not a general compliment for competence.

## Understanding the expression

Color and fragrance combine visual and sensory beauty, traditionally making the phrase especially suitable for peonies. Modern literary use also praises a person of exceptional beauty. The wording is extravagant and stylized rather than a plain everyday compliment. It does not describe character, skill, or kindness. When applied to real people, consider whether the setting welcomes such appearance-focused language; a poem or costume drama makes the elevated tone more natural.

## Examples

园中的牡丹国色天香。

### Traditional Chinese

園中的牡丹國色天香。

yuán zhōng de mǔ dān guó sè tiān xiāng 。

The garden's peonies are exquisitely beautiful.

诗人赞她国色天香。

### Traditional Chinese

詩人贊她國色天香。

shī rén zàn tā guó sè tiān xiāng 。

The poet praises her extraordinary beauty.

画册展示了国色天香的牡丹。

### Traditional Chinese

畫冊展示了國色天香的牡丹。

huà cè zhǎn shì le guó sè tiān xiāng de mǔ dān 。

The album displays magnificent peonies.

戏中人物虽国色天香，却命运多舛。

### Traditional Chinese

戲中人物雖國色天香，卻命運多舛。

xì zhōng rén wù suī guó sè tiān xiāng ， què mìng yùn duō chuǎn 。

The character is exceptionally beautiful but has a troubled fate.

## 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%9C%8B%E8%89%B2%E5%A4%A9%E9%A6%99)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=583&webMd=1&la=0)

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