Is the expression 冰雪聪明 (bīng xuě cōng míng) really only used for girls? The literal translation is "snow smart" and I understand it means something along the lines of "extremely smart" but the times I've tried using it for boys/men I'm told it's only for girls.
冰雪聪明 always describes that someone is very clever and smart. It comes from 唐·杜甫《送樊二十三侍御赴汉中判官》诗:“坐知七曜历,手画三军势。冰雪净聪明,雷霆走精锐。”
. But 冰雪聪明
is not only for girl.
冰雪聪明
can be used to describe the child too----冰雪聪明的孩子, but be careful when you use it to describe adult, especially male adult.
Other examples in ancient articles:
以冰雪聪明的文章,写雷霆精锐的思想,这种议论,就容易动人听闻了。(清·曾朴《孽海花》第十回)
姬冰雪聪明,靡不淹悟,类多韜匿不言。(清·陈孟楷 《湘烟小录·香畹楼忆语》)
Source:
I would say, in most cases it is used to describe young girls. In some other cases, if people want to make their comments/conversation to take a flavor of humor, they can be used to describe boys/men.
才貌双全 is relatively more neutral.
According to baidu (http://baike.baidu.com/view/117274.htm), it is usually used to describe women, but can occasionally be used to describe men as well. "这个词通常用来形容年轻女子。 ... 有时也可用于才貌双全的男性。"
cōng ming
. – Stan Jan 6 '14 at 2:04