北巷未寒南栀未暖
[bĕi xiàng wèi hán nán zhī wèi nuăn]
Translation: 'The North Alley has yet to grow cold, and the southern gardenia is not warm.' The north often implies winter while south represents spring, symbolizing transition times between two seasons or emotional states. Meanwhile, the contrast of not quite chilled nor warmed reflects a moment suspended between changing conditions, evoking themes such as hesitation towards embracing changes or the inevitability thereof, mixed hopes and lingering sadness.