Meaning:

    “万” means “ten thousand,” “紫” means “purple,” “千” means “one thousand,” “红” means “red,” “一片” means “a patch of,” and “绿” means “green.” Originally, the phrase may refer to spring flowers set against green leaves. However, it has become a buzzword lately with a new meaning taken. As five-yuan, 100-yuan and 50-yuan banknotes are in the color of purple, red and green respectively, this phrase has come to stand for the money a bride-to-be demands from her fiance’s family in rural China. That sum of money amounts to at least 150,050, reflecting the difficulty for a rural young man to get married in the country. It’s said that the fiancé also needs to provide a car and an apartment in the neighboring township.

    Example:

    A: 你叔叔的儿子结婚了吗？

    Nǐ shūshū de érzi jiéhūn le ma?

    Is your uncle’s son married?

    B: 快了吧。女方要了万紫千红一片绿，一动不动，都给了。

    Kuàile ba。Nǚfāng yào le wànzǐ qiānhóng yīpiànlǜ, yīdòng bùdòng, dōu gěi le。

    Almost there. The girl asked for a big sum of money plus a car and an apartment, which he all paid for.