Another Short History of Linguistics (92)

Sometimes Chinese uses changing condition to represent time instead using the time itself such as 斗转星移, luminous point in the night turning and star move. 物是人非，things still there but the person is gone.

Sometimes, Chinese colour could replace some flowers such as: 怡红快绿 joyful red happy green，绿肥红瘦, green is fat and red is thin.  万紫千红，thousands purple and hundreds red, (see picture)

Pic from: http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9C/8B/wKgB3FFIA_iAAmEHAA62vbnyNvU44.jpeg