"Méi fēi sè wǔ" literally depicts eyebrows flying, facial color dancing — a vivid, classical idiom describing someone’s face lighting up with unrestrained joy and excitement. Each character contributes to the imagery: 眉 (eyebrows) suggests facial expression; 飞 (to fly) conveys liveliness and upward movement; 色 (color/complexion) refers to the flush or brightness of one’s face; and 舞 (to dance) emphasizes animated, almost rhythmic delight. Together, they form a highly expressive, literary adjective that goes beyond simple happiness — it implies visible, energetic, and contagious enthusiasm.

This idiom is commonly used in storytelling, descriptive writing, or spoken Chinese when emphasizing someone’s exuberant reaction — for example, after hearing good news, winning a prize, or recalling a joyful memory. It’s more formal and colorful than everyday words like 高兴 (gāoxìng) or 开心 (kāixīn), and often appears in narratives, speeches, or media reports to add rhetorical flair.