fēnghérìlì: 风和日丽 - Gentle Breeze and Beautiful Sun; Pleasant Weather

• Keywords: fengherili, fēng hé rì lì, 风和日丽, gentle breeze beautiful sun, pleasant weather Chinese, Chinese idiom for good weather, chengyu for weather, feng he ri li meaning, describing a nice day in Chinese.
• Summary: Fēng hé rì lì (风和日丽) is a classic Chinese four-character idiom (chengyu) used to describe perfectly pleasant weather. It literally translates to “gentle breeze and beautiful sun,” evoking a tranquil, picturesque day ideal for outdoor activities. This entry explores the meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage of this common and poetic phrase for describing a nice day in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fēng hé rì lì
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced, but very common and useful)
• Concise Definition: The wind is gentle and the sun is beautiful; describing fine, pleasant weather.
• In a Nutshell: This isn't just a weather report; it's a mood. `风和日丽` paints a picture of a perfect day—not too hot, not too cold, with a light, comfortable breeze and warm, bright sunshine. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to go for a walk in the park, have a picnic, or simply sit outside and enjoy the moment. It carries a strong positive and peaceful connotation.

• 风 (fēng): Wind.
• 和 (hé): Gentle, harmonious, peaceful. In this context, it modifies “wind,” meaning the breeze is soft, not a strong gale.
• 日 (rì): Sun or daytime.
• 丽 (lì): Beautiful, lovely. Here, it describes the sun, implying it's bright and pleasant, not scorching.

These characters combine literally to form “Wind-Gentle-Sun-Beautiful,” creating a vivid and poetic mental image of an idyllic day.

• Harmony with Nature: `风和日丽` reflects a deep-seated value in Chinese culture: the appreciation for harmony (和, hé) and the beauty of the natural world. This idiom doesn't just describe the weather; it describes an ideal state of balance and tranquility. It's the weather equivalent of a peaceful, well-ordered life.
• Literary vs. Everyday Language: As a chengyu, this phrase has roots in classical literature, giving it a slightly more formal and poetic feel than simply saying “the weather is nice.” It's a phrase that elevates a simple observation into a more refined expression.
• Comparison to Western Phrases: An English speaker might say, “It's a beautiful day out!” or “Perfect weather we're having.” While the meaning is similar, `风和日丽` is a fixed, idiomatic expression that is more descriptive and evocative. The Western phrases are spontaneous declarations, whereas `风和日丽` is a recognized literary block used to set a scene, much like saying “It was a dark and stormy night,” but for good weather. It paints a picture rather than just stating a fact.

• Formality: `风和日丽` is considered slightly formal and is more common in written Chinese (essays, stories, social media captions) than in rapid, casual conversation. However, it is universally understood and can be used in speech to sound more descriptive or appreciative.
• Common Scenarios:
  • Setting a Scene: It's frequently used at the beginning of a narrative to establish a pleasant and positive setting. “It was a `风和日丽` morning when we set out for the Great Wall.”
  • Social Media: It's a perfect caption for a photo of a beautiful landscape, a park, or a family outing on a nice day.
  • Describing a Perfect Day for an Activity: You might text a friend, “Tomorrow is supposed to be `风和日丽`, let's go hiking!”

• Example 1:
  • 今天风和日丽，我们去公园野餐吧！
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān fēng hé rì lì, wǒmen qù gōngyuán yěcān ba!
  • English: The weather is so pleasant today, let's go have a picnic in the park!
  • Analysis: A common, practical suggestion that uses the idiom to justify the proposed activity.
• Example 2:
  • 在一个风和日丽的下午，他决定向她求婚。
  • Pinyin: Zài yīgè fēng hé rì lì de xiàwǔ, tā juédìng xiàng tā qiúhūn.
  • English: On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, he decided to propose to her.
  • Analysis: Here, `风和日丽` acts as an adjective modifying “afternoon” (下午), setting a romantic and perfect scene for a major life event.
• Example 3:
  • 我最喜欢春天，因为常常是风和日丽的好天气。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān chūntiān, yīnwèi chángcháng shì fēng hé rì lì de hǎo tiānqì.
  • English: I like spring the most because the weather is often so fine and pleasant.
  • Analysis: Used to describe the general character of a season's weather.
• Example 4:
  • 假期里，我们享受着风和日丽的海滩时光。
  • Pinyin: Jiàqī lǐ, wǒmen xiǎngshòu zhe fēng hé rì lì de hǎitān shíguāng.
  • English: During the holiday, we enjoyed the pleasant, sunny weather on the beach.
  • Analysis: Shows the idiom being used to describe a memorable, enjoyable experience.
• Example 5:
  • 今天的北京一扫前几日的阴霾，风和日丽，万里无云。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de Běijīng yīsǎo qián jǐ rì de yīnmái, fēng hé rì lì, wànlǐ wúyún.
  • English: Today's Beijing swept away the haze of the past few days; the breeze is gentle, the sun is beautiful, and there isn't a cloud in the sky.
  • Analysis: This example shows `风和日丽` used in contrast to previous bad weather. It is also paired with another weather idiom, `万里无云` (wànlǐ wúyún).
• Example 6:
  • 婚礼那天风和日丽，仿佛是上天的祝福。
  • Pinyin: Hūnlǐ nàtiān fēng hé rì lì, fǎngfú shì shàngtiān de zhùfú.
  • English: The weather on the wedding day was perfectly pleasant, as if it were a blessing from heaven.
  • Analysis: The pleasant weather is given a deeper, almost metaphorical meaning, linking it to good fortune.
• Example 7:
  • 我还记得那个风和日丽的周日，我们第一次见了面。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hái jìde nàge fēng hé rì lì de zhōurì, wǒmen dì yī cì jiàn le miàn.
  • English: I still remember that lovely Sunday with the gentle breeze and beautiful sun when we met for the first time.
  • Analysis: Used to describe the atmosphere of a cherished memory.
• Example 8:
  • 预报说周末会风和日丽，很适合户外运动。
  • Pinyin: Yùbào shuō zhōumò huì fēng hé rì lì, hěn shìhé hùwài yùndòng.
  • English: The forecast says this weekend will be sunny and pleasant, very suitable for outdoor sports.
  • Analysis: A modern usage, talking about a weather forecast in a slightly more descriptive way.
• Example 9:
  • 他打开窗，看到外面风和日丽，心情一下子就好了起来。
  • Pinyin: Tā dǎkāi chuāng, kàndào wàimiàn fēng hé rì lì, xīnqíng yīxiàzi jiù hǎo le qǐlái.
  • English: He opened the window, saw the beautiful weather outside, and his mood instantly improved.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly connects the pleasant weather described by the idiom to a positive emotional change.
• Example 10:
  • 这张照片是在一个风和日丽的早晨拍的，光线特别好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shì zài yīgè fēng hé rì lì de zǎochén pāi de, guāngxiàn tèbié hǎo.
  • English: This photo was taken on a lovely, sunny morning; the light was especially good.
  • Analysis: Used in a practical context (photography) to describe ideal weather conditions.

• Don't use it for any sunny day. `风和日丽` specifically implies a gentle breeze (风和). If it's a scorching hot, windless, and humid summer day, this term is inappropriate. The key is comfort and pleasantness.
• It's not for casual greetings. While an English speaker might say “Nice weather!” as a passing greeting, `风和日丽` is too descriptive for that. For a quick comment, `天气不错 (tiānqì bùcuò)` or `天气很好 (tiānqì hěn hǎo)` is much more natural.
  • Incorrect: (Two strangers pass each other) A: “风和日丽！” (Too formal and strange)
  • Correct: (Two strangers pass each other) A: “今天天气真好！” (The weather is really nice today!)
• Understand its literary feel. Using `风和日丽` adds a touch of poetry to your language. It shows you're not just stating a fact, but appreciating the atmosphere. Overusing it in simple, functional conversations can make you sound a bit like you're reading from a book.

• 天气晴朗 (tiānqì qínglǎng) - Sunny and clear weather. A more neutral and direct description, like a weather report. It lacks the poetic, peaceful feeling of `风和日丽`.
• 阳光明媚 (yángguāng míngmèi) - Bright and beautiful sunshine. This focuses specifically on the quality of the sunlight, and can be used even if it's a bit windy or cold.
• 万里无云 (wànlǐ wúyún) - Ten thousand miles without a cloud. Describes a perfectly clear blue sky, often used alongside `风和日丽` to emphasize the good weather.
• 秋高气爽 (qiūgāo qìshuǎng) - The autumn sky is high and the air is crisp. A seasonal idiom specifically for describing pleasant, cool autumn days.
• 春暖花开 (chūnnuǎn huākāi) - The spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. A seasonal idiom for the pleasant arrival of spring.
• 风雨交加 (fēngyǔ jiāojiā) - (Antonym) Wind and rain lash down together. A perfect opposite, describing stormy, miserable weather.
• 乌云密布 (wūyún mìbù) - (Antonym) Black clouds are densely gathered. Describes the sky right before a storm, the opposite of the bright, clear sky of `风和日丽`.