花瓶

• Pinyin: huā píng
• Hanzi breakdown: 花 = 艹 (grass) + 化 (change), flower; 瓶 = 并 (combine, phonetic) + 瓦 (pottery), container

Meaning

Vase; flower vase. A container used for holding cut flowers or as decoration.

Besides the literal meaning, 花瓶 is commonly used as slang for someone (usually a woman) who looks attractive but lacks substance or ability. In workplace contexts, calling someone a 花瓶 implies they were hired for appearance rather than skills. This metaphorical usage is somewhat derogatory.

Examples

1. 这个青花瓷花瓶是我外婆传下来的，有一百多年的历史了。 This blue and white porcelain vase was passed down from my grandmother — it's over a hundred years old.
2. 她在公司里可不是什么花瓶，人家是正儿八经的技术骨干。 She's definitely not just a pretty face at the company — she's a genuine technical backbone.
3. 客厅的那个花瓶太高了，放鲜花反而显得头重脚轻。 That vase in the living room is too tall; putting fresh flowers in it actually makes it look top-heavy.

Usage Guide

Context: home decor, slang, workplace

Tone: varies

Do Say

• 这个花瓶很配你家的装修风格。(This vase really matches your home decor style.)
• 别把她当花瓶，她能力很强的。(Don't treat her as just a pretty face — she's very capable.)

Don't Say

• 当面说某人是花瓶 (Never call someone a 花瓶 to their face — it's insulting, implying they're decorative but useless)

Origin & History

Compound of 花 (flower) + 瓶 (bottle, vase). The metaphorical sense of 'pretty but useless' emerged in modern Chinese.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal