====== lángcáinǚmào: 郎才女貌 - Talented Man and Beautiful Woman ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** langcainvmao, 郎才女貌, talented man beautiful woman, perfect match Chinese, well-matched couple, Chinese chengyu, Chinese idiom for couples, ideal couple, brains and beauty, 才子佳人.
  * **Summary:** The Chinese idiom **郎才女貌 (láng cái nǚ mào)** describes the ideal couple in traditional Chinese culture, literally meaning "talented man and beautiful woman." This term is used as a high compliment for a pair who are considered a perfect match, with the man's intellect and abilities perfectly complementing the woman's grace and appearance. Understanding `lángcáinǚmào` offers insight into cultural values surrounding relationships and gender roles in China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** láng cái nǚ mào
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (Chinese Idiom) / Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** A talented man and a beautiful woman; a perfectly matched couple.
  * **In a Nutshell:** `郎才女貌` is the quintessential compliment for a couple that seems destined for each other based on a traditional formula for harmony. It paints a picture where a man's most valued attribute is his intellect or talent (`才`), and a woman's is her beauty (`貌`). Together, they form a complete and admirable pair. Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of "beauty and the brains," but used to praise the couple as a single, harmonious unit.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **郎 (láng):** A young man; a gentleman; a term for one's husband in classical Chinese.
  * **才 (cái):** Talent; ability; intellect; genius. This refers to a man's skills, education, and professional capabilities.
  * **女 (nǚ):** A woman; female.
  * **貌 (mào):** Appearance; looks; features; beauty.
  * When combined, the idiom follows a clear structure: **郎(Man's)才(Talent)** and **女(Woman's)貌(Beauty)**. This parallel structure creates a concise and powerful image of a complementary and ideal partnership.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * `郎才女貌` is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese social values, reflecting historical gender roles. In imperial China, a man's path to success and social status was primarily through his intellect—passing civil service exams and becoming a scholar-official. His `才` (talent) was his greatest asset. For a woman, beauty (`貌`), along with virtue and grace, was highly prized and seen as a key attribute for making a good match and managing a household. The pairing was therefore seen as harmonious and balanced.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** This differs from the modern Western concept of a "power couple," which usually implies that both partners are successful, influential, and ambitious in their respective careers. `郎才女貌` is about complementary attributes rather than mirrored success. It is closer to the phrase "beauty and the brains," but while that English phrase often describes two separate individuals, `郎才女貌` is almost exclusively used to describe the couple as a single, well-matched entity, implying they are a perfect fit.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Praising Couples:** This is the most common use. It's a very positive and auspicious thing to say about a new couple, an engaged pair, or newlyweds. It is a staple compliment at weddings.
  * **In Media:** The `郎才女貌` trope is a cornerstone of many Chinese TV dramas, films, and novels, especially historical and romance genres. The male lead is often brilliant and capable, while the female lead is stunningly beautiful.
  * **Formality:** The term has a slightly literary and traditional feel but is widely understood and used in everyday conversation. It is more common to hear it from older generations, but young people use it as well, sometimes with a hint of classic romanticism. Its connotation is almost always positive and celebratory.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 看看这对新人，真是**郎才女貌**，天作之合啊！
    * Pinyin: Kànkan zhè duì xīnrén, zhēnshì **lángcáinǚmào**, tiānzuòzhīhé a!
    * English: Look at this newlywed couple, truly a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven!
    * Analysis: This is a classic wedding toast or compliment. It combines `郎才女貌` with another idiom, `天作之合` (a match made in heaven), to give the highest praise.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他是公司里最有前途的工程师，他女朋友又那么漂亮，大家都很羡慕他们这对**郎才女貌**的组合。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì gōngsī lǐ zuì yǒu qiántú de gōngchéngshī, tā nǚpéngyou yòu nàme piàoliang, dàjiā dōu hěn xiànmù tāmen zhè duì **lángcáinǚmào** de zǔhé.
    * English: He is the most promising engineer in the company, and his girlfriend is so beautiful; everyone is very envious of their "talented man, beautiful woman" pairing.
    * Analysis: This shows how the term is used in a modern workplace context to describe a dating couple.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 很多人认为，只有**郎才女貌**的婚姻才会幸福。
    * Pinyin: Hěnduō rén rènwéi, zhǐyǒu **lángcáinǚmào** de hūnyīn cái huì xìngfú.
    * English: Many people believe that only marriages between a talented man and a beautiful woman will be happy.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the term to express a societal belief or stereotype, showing its function as a cultural concept.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这部电视剧的男女主角**郎才女貌**，非常受观众欢迎。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù de nánnǚ zhǔjué **lángcáinǚmào**, fēicháng shòu guānzhòng huānyíng.
    * English: The male and female leads in this TV drama are a talented man and a beautiful woman, making them very popular with the audience.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates its use in describing fictional characters, a very common context.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你们俩一个博士一个模特，简直是**郎才女貌**的典范。
    * Pinyin: Nǐmen liǎ yīgè bóshì yīgè mótè, jiǎnzhí shì **lángcáinǚmào** de diǎnfàn.
    * English: With one of you being a PhD and the other a model, you two are simply a perfect example of a talented man and a beautiful woman.
    * Analysis: This sentence provides concrete examples of `才` (talent, represented by a PhD) and `貌` (beauty, represented by a model).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 在我们父母那一代，**郎才女貌**是婚姻的理想标准。
    * Pinyin: Zài wǒmen fùmǔ nà yī dài, **lángcáinǚmào** shì hūnyīn de lǐxiǎng biāozhǔn.
    * English: In our parents' generation, "talented man and beautiful woman" was the ideal standard for marriage.
    * Analysis: This explicitly frames the term as a generational or traditional value.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他们俩站在一起，就给人一种**郎才女貌**的感觉。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ zhàn zài yīqǐ, jiù gěi rén yī zhǒng **lángcáinǚmào** de gǎnjué.
    * English: When the two of them stand together, they just give people the feeling of a perfect "talented man, beautiful woman" match.
    * Analysis: This shows that the term can describe the overall impression a couple makes.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 虽然他们不算是**郎才女貌**，但他们的感情非常好。
    * Pinyin: Suīrán tāmen bù suànshì **lángcáinǚmào**, dàn tāmen de gǎnqíng fēicháng hǎo.
    * English: Although they aren't what you'd call a "talented man and beautiful woman" type of couple, their relationship is excellent.
    * Analysis: This example uses the term in the negative to contrast appearance-based ideals with the quality of the relationship itself.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 那个画家和他的妻子就是**郎才女貌**的真实写照。
    * Pinyin: Nàge huàjiā hé tā de qīzi jiùshì **lángcáinǚmào** de zhēnshí xiězhào.
    * English: That painter and his wife are a real-life embodiment of "talented man and beautiful woman."
    * Analysis: `真实写照` (zhēnshí xiězhào) means "a true portrayal," emphasizing that this couple perfectly fits the idiom.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 别总想着**郎才女貌**了，性格合得来才最重要。
    * Pinyin: Bié zǒng xiǎngzhe **lángcáinǚmào** le, xìnggé hédelái cái zuì zhòngyào.
    * English: Stop always thinking about finding a "talented man, beautiful woman" match; compatible personalities are what's most important.
    * Analysis: This sentence offers a modern critique of the traditional ideal, advising someone to look beyond superficial traits.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Strict Gender Roles:** The term is inherently gendered and traditional. **It cannot be reversed.** You cannot say `女才郎貌` (nǚ cái láng mào) to describe a talented woman and a handsome man. While that might be a reality, this specific idiom does not apply. You would need to use a different phrase to describe that situation.
  * **Talent is Key:** Do not mistake `郎才女貌` for the English "attractive couple" or "beautiful couple." The `才` (cái - talent) of the man is a non-negotiable part of the meaning. A couple where both partners are simply very good-looking would be better described by `金童玉女` (jīntóngyùnǚ).
  * **Not for Same-Sex Couples:** Due to its fixed structure based on traditional male and female roles, this idiom is not used to describe same-sex couples.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[才子佳人]] (cáizǐ jiārén) - "Talented scholar and beautiful lady." A very close synonym, often found in classical literature and opera. It emphasizes the man's scholarly or artistic talent.
  * [[天作之合]] (tiān zuò zhī hé) - "A match made in heaven." Describes the couple's compatibility as being destined or perfect, focusing on fate rather than specific attributes.
  * [[门当户对]] (mén dāng hù duì) - "Families of equal standing." A related concept for an ideal marriage, but it focuses on the compatibility of the couple's social and economic backgrounds, not their personal traits.
  * [[金童玉女]] (jīntóngyùnǚ) - "Golden boy and jade girl." Describes a young, beautiful, and seemingly perfect couple, emphasizing their appearance and innocence more than talent.
  * [[天生一对]] (tiān shēng yī duì) - "A born couple" or "a natural pair." Similar to "a match made in heaven," it stresses that the two people are naturally suited for each other.
  * [[美女配野兽]] (měinǚ pèi yěshòu) - "Beauty and the beast." A humorous semi-antonym, used to describe a couple where a beautiful woman is with a man who is not considered handsome or is rough around the edges.