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Definition 2024


傾城

傾城

See also: 倾城

Chinese

 
to overturn; to collapse; to lean; to tend; to incline; to pour out
city walls; city; town
trad. (傾城)
simp. (倾城)

Noun

傾城

  1. (archaic) a drop-dead gorgeous woman; a beauty who could drive a man to such distraction; a woman so beautiful, that he might be tempted to ignore his duties at court, and thus bring about the downfall of his empire

Usage notes

The story encapsulated by this word also figures prominently in the movie House of Flying Daggers.

Related terms


Japanese

Kanji in this term
けい
Grade: S
せい
Grade: 6
on'yomi

Etymology

See the Chinese section.

Noun

傾城 (hiragana けいせい, romaji keisei)

  1. (idiomatic) a very beautiful woman (Compare the English term femme fatale.)
    傾城 (けいせい)美人 (びじん)
    keisei no bijin
    a castle-toppling beauty
  2. (idiomatic) courtesan

Synonyms

  • (beautiful woman): 傾城傾国 (けいせいけいこく) (keiseikeikoku)

References

  • Kōjien, 5th edition, Iwanami Shoten Publishing, Tōkyō.