# 明日黄花

míng rì huáng huā

Something has lost its timeliness or relevance

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Chrysanthemums after their season of appreciation

**Traditional Chinese:** 明日黃花

**Register:** Reflective · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe outdated news, fashions, or opportunities.

Not simply anything old; relevance has faded.

## Understanding the expression

Flowers remain physically present after their special season, but the moment that gave them attention has passed. Modern use applies the phrase to news, trends, products, or ideas whose relevance has faded. It is not about tomorrow in an ordinary scheduling sense. Something can be old and still useful, so age alone is not enough. The expression concerns losing the timely value or appeal that once made people seek it out.

## Examples

那条新闻已是明日黄花。

### Traditional Chinese

那條新聞已是明日黃花。

nà tiáo xīn wén yǐ shì míng rì huáng huā 。

That news is already out of date.

旧款手机成了明日黄花。

### Traditional Chinese

舊款手機成了明日黃花。

jiù kuǎn shǒu jī chéng le míng rì huáng huā 。

The old phone model has lost its appeal.

这套营销话术早成明日黄花。

### Traditional Chinese

這套營銷話術早成明日黃花。

zhè tào yíng xiāo huà shù zǎo chéng míng rì huáng huā 。

This marketing language is long outdated.

热门话题也可能很快变成明日黄花。

### Traditional Chinese

熱門話題也可能很快變成明日黃花。

rè mén huà tí yě kě néng hěn kuài biàn chéng míng rì huáng huā 。

Even a hot topic can quickly lose relevance.

## 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=%E6%98%8E%E6%97%A5%E9%BB%83%E8%8A%B1)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=245&webMd=1&la=0)

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