Today's favourite word

[fenlan]

I found this word today: feng4yan3, 凤眼, meaning "beautiful eyes" (phoenix eyes). But how could I use this word in a sentence? I don't think one could say, "你有凤眼". Maybe you could say, "她的凤眼吸引着我"?

And is this a word most Chiense people would know?

[devi9]

This is not nearly as beautiful and poetic as yours, fenlan, but I almost died laughing when I learned 拉拉队 today! It's almost onomatopoetic.

[fenlan]

Actually ABCD shows this can be 拉拉队 or 啦啦队, The second version seems better to me, as it nothing to do with "pulling".

[devi9]

I absolutely agree!

[Quest]

I found this word today: feng4yan3, 凤眼, meaning "beautiful eyes" (phoenix eyes).

凤眼 does not mean beautiful eyes, but just what it says -- phoenix eyes. Many Westerners are believed to prefer the stereotypic 凤眼 Chinese girls as they look more traditional and exotic.

Like this:

[in_lab]

And many Chinese are believed to prefer the stereotypical 雙眼皮 Chinese girls because they are more traditional and refined.

[skylee]

Does 單眼皮 happen to non-Asians?

[chenpv]

Fenlan, 凤眼 is short for 丹凤眼, which depicts the corner of the eye(is that the right expression for 眼角？) bends upward a little. 凤眼 is regarded as beautiful but it is also believed to show the characteristics of being scheming,verjuice,awesome of a woman.so my suggestion is you not use it as a compliment since it leads to misunderstanding.

expamle: 一双丹凤三角眼，两弯柳叶吊梢眉。-----------《红楼梦》第三回 this is the discription of the 王熙凤。

however, your sentences are all excellent.

[skylee]

BTW, if you are not born with 鳳眼, you should know that it is not difficult to get 雞眼. (nonsense, I know, forgive me.)

[chenpv]

and the word '拉拉队'，拉 here means 'chat' it is usually used in some dialects. and in this circumstance, 拉 and 啦 are interchangeable. and they both mean 'chat'. while actually 拉拉队 is the original form, 啦啦队 is gradually being accepted.

[fuxing]

拉拉队means cheer leaders, right ???

[fenlan]

yes laladui means cheerleaders. ABCD also translates it as "rooters", which means nothing to me!

[eddiewouldgo]

ABCD also translates it as "rooters", which means nothing to me!

last definition on http://www.answers.com/rooting&r=67

root

intr.v., root·ed, root·ing, roots.

To give audible encouragement or applause to a contestant or team; cheer. See synonyms at applaud.

To lend support to someone or something.

e.g. Which team are you rooting for?

[devi9]

interesting that 拉拉队 came before 啦啦队...

Somebody told me 拉拉 (maybe 啦啦?) meant lesbian (maybe dialect or slang term?). Can anyone confirm this?

[chenpv]

while, i think cheerleader means 拉拉队长。

devi，i ve never heard of that. lesiban---- 女同志

[devi9]

Thanks! That's what I thought, but my friend said that 拉拉 (or 啦啦) was derogatory while 女同志 was more formal.