# 美轮美奂

měi lún měi huàn

Be magnificent and beautifully impressive

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Grand and splendid

**Traditional Chinese:** 美輪美奐

**Register:** Positive · literary

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

## When to use it

Praise impressive buildings or elaborate visual works.

Traditionally architectural; wider modern use should still suit visual splendor.

## Understanding the expression

The expression is traditionally associated with the grandeur and beauty of buildings. Modern descriptions may extend it to stage sets and other elaborate visual scenes. The emphasis is on impressive appearance, not necessarily practical usefulness or ethical value. A large hall can be magnificent yet difficult to navigate. Learners should prefer it for substantial visual splendor rather than casually applying it to any attractive object, pleasant feeling, or well-written argument.

## Examples

新音乐厅美轮美奂。

### Traditional Chinese

新音樂廳美輪美奐。

xīn yīn yuè tīng měi lún měi huàn 。

The new concert hall is magnificent.

舞台布景美轮美奂，让人赞叹。

### Traditional Chinese

舞臺佈景美輪美奐，讓人讚歎。

wǔ tái bù jǐng měi lún měi huàn ， ràng rén zàn tàn 。

The splendid stage set drew admiration.

灯光下的宫殿美轮美奂。

### Traditional Chinese

燈光下的宮殿美輪美奐。

dēng guāng xià de gōng diàn měi lún měi huàn 。

The palace looked magnificent under the lights.

酒店大厅美轮美奂，客房却很普通。

### Traditional Chinese

酒店大廳美輪美奐，客房卻很普通。

jiǔ diàn dà tīng měi lún měi huàn ， kè fáng què hěn pǔ tōng 。

The hotel lobby is splendid, but the rooms are ordinary.

## 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=%E7%BE%8E%E8%BC%AA%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%90)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=479&webMd=1&la=0)

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