綾あやをなして

Meanings

in beautiful patterns; in intricate designs

Describes something forming or being arranged in visually striking, often complex patterns, like woven fabric or natural scenery.

紅こう葉ようが山やま肌はだに綾あやをなして広ひろがっていた。
The autumn leaves spread across the mountainside in beautiful patterns.
色いろとりどりの花はなが庭にわに綾あやをなして咲さいている。
Colorful flowers are blooming in the garden in intricate designs.

Kanji

綾design, figured cloth, twill
成turn into, become, get

Related words

模も様よう
模様 is a general noun for pattern or design, while 綾をなして is a literary expression describing the state of being in beautiful patterns.
綾あや
綾 alone refers to a twill weave or a figure of speech; 綾をなして is a fixed phrase meaning 'in beautiful patterns'.

Written forms

綾あやをなして
Standard kanji spelling using 綾 (pattern, design) and なして (from 成す, to form).
綾あやを成なして
Alternate kanji spelling using 成す (to form, to make).

Etymology

From 綾 (aya, 'pattern, design') + を + なして (nashite, the te-form of 成す nasu, 'to form, to make'). The phrase literally means 'forming a pattern' and is used adverbially to describe something appearing in intricate or beautiful arrangements.