牡丹花下死，做鬼也風流
Mandarin
| simpl. | 牡丹花下死，做鬼也风流 | |
|---|---|---|
| trad. | 牡丹花下死，做鬼也風流 | |
Etymology
Literally: If I should die beneath a Peony flower, I will still be charming as a ghost.
- Note: Peony flower is a metaphor for a beautiful woman.
Proverb
牡丹花下死，做鬼也風流 (traditional, Pinyin mǔdān huā xià sǐ, zuòguǐ yě fēngliú, simplified 牡丹花下死，做鬼也风流)
- If I die under a skirt, I can still flirt as a ghost.[1]
- If my body should perish, girls I'll still cherish.[2]
Usage notes
- source of both footnotes 1 and 2: House of Flying Daggers (Title 01 Chapter 06, about 10 seconds before Chapter 07), said by Takeshi Kaneshiro's character. In the movie, he actually says: 寧在花下死，做鬼也風流 (Literally: "I would rather die under a flower; I will still be amorous, even as a ghost").
References
- "牡丹花下死，做鬼也風流" (in Mandarin), Guoyu Cidian On-line Mandarin Dictionary (國語辭典). URL accessed on 2008-04-30.