逃之夭夭

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Chinese

to escape; to run away; to flee 's; him/her/it; this
young and elegant; pleased; amiable
young and elegant; pleased; amiable; cheerful
 
trad. (逃之夭夭) 逃 之 夭夭
simp. #(逃之夭夭) 逃 之 夭夭

Etymology

A homophonic pun based on the following line from the Classic of Poetry, poem 6 (《詩經·周南·桃夭》), by replacing 桃 (táo, “peach”) with 逃 (táo, “to escape”):

桃之夭夭，灼灼其華，
之子于歸，宜其室家。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
桃之夭夭，灼灼其华，
之子于归，宜其室家。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Táo zhī yāoyāo, zhuózhuó qí huá,
Zhī zǐ yú guī, yí qí shì jiā.
The peach tree is young and elegant; Brilliant are its flowers.
This young lady is going to her future home, And will order well her chamber and house.

Pronunciation

Verb

逃之夭夭

  1. (humorous) to flee; to take to one's heels

Synonyms

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