# 龙飞凤舞

lóng fēi fèng wǔ

Show bold, flowing movement in calligraphy

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Dragons fly and phoenixes dance

**Traditional Chinese:** 龍飛鳳舞

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe lively, expansive written strokes.

It can also suggest handwriting that is difficult to read.

## The image & its use

Two imagined creatures in motion give the expression energy and breadth. In calligraphy it commonly praises strokes that move with freedom and confidence across the page. In everyday writing, the same freedom may make letters or characters hard to read. Context therefore determines whether the description is admiring or gently critical. Consider both expressive movement and clarity: a beautiful flourish is useful in an artwork, while a practical note needs to remain understandable.

## Examples

这幅书法龙飞凤舞，很有气势。

### Traditional Chinese

這幅書法龍飛鳳舞，很有氣勢。

zhè fú shū fǎ lóng fēi fèng wǔ ， hěn yǒu qì shì 。

The calligraphy has bold, flowing strokes and great presence.

他的签名龙飞凤舞，不容易辨认。

### Traditional Chinese

他的簽名龍飛鳳舞，不容易辨認。

tā de qiān míng lóng fēi fèng wǔ ， bù róng yì biàn rèn 。

His expansive signature is difficult to read.

她练习龙飞凤舞的行书。

### Traditional Chinese

她練習龍飛鳳舞的行書。

tā liàn xí lóng fēi fèng wǔ de xíng shū 。

She practices a lively, flowing running script.

写便条不必龙飞凤舞，清楚最重要。

### Traditional Chinese

寫便條不必龍飛鳳舞，清楚最重要。

xiě biàn tiáo bú bì lóng fēi fèng wǔ ， qīng chǔ zuì zhòng yào 。

A note need not be flamboyant; clarity matters most.

## 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=1101&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%BE%8D%E9%A3%9B%E9%B3%B3%E8%88%9E)

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