"栩栩如生" describes an artistic image as extremely true to life, as if it were alive. In this idiom, "栩栩" means lively and vivid, and "生" means alive. The idiom originates from a passage in Zhuangzi's "On the Equality of Things": "Once Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a vivid butterfly indeed." It originally described the lively posture of a butterfly in a dream, and later evolved to describe lifelike and vibrant portrayals of characters or objects in paintings, sculptures, and literary works. It is used in a wide range of contexts, often to praise the creations of painters, sculptors, writers, or actors, emphasizing that their works or performances are vivid and highly realistic. Its emotional tone is positive, carrying a sense of admiration and wonder. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the pursuit of "spiritual likeness" in traditional Chinese art, namely, not only formal resemblance but also spiritual resemblance, allowing viewers to feel the inner spirit of the subject.
📝 Example
1. The young girl in this oil painting is so lifelike that she seems about to step out of the canvas at any moment.
2. The actor's performance was so vivid and true to life that he portrayed the image of Ah Q from Lu Xun's works with remarkable depth and precision.