expression, noun
starry eyes and beautiful white teeth
A set phrase from classical Chinese poetry, used in literary Japanese to praise a woman's beauty, especially her clear, bright eyes and lovely smile. Rare in modern conversation; encountered mainly in historical or elegant writing.
彼女はまるで明眸皓歯という言葉がぴったりの美人だった。
She was a beauty who perfectly fit the phrase 'starry eyes and beautiful white teeth'.
A yojijukugo derived from classical Chinese literature, combining 明 (bright), 眸 (pupil/eye), 皓 (white/clear), and 歯 (tooth). It originally described idealized feminine beauty in poetry.