壽比南山

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Chinese

(long) life
 
side by side; compare; to gesture
side by side; compare; to gesture; than; ratio
 Zhongnan Mountains
trad. (壽比南山) 壽 比 南山
simp. (寿比南山) 寿 比 南山
Literally: “ life is as long-lasting as the Zhongnan Mountains”.

Etymology

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 166 (《詩經·小雅·天保》):

如南山之壽，不騫不崩。
如松柏之茂，無不爾或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
如南山之寿，不骞不崩。
如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rú nánshān zhī shòu, bù qiān bù bēng.
Rú sōngbǎi zhī mào, wú bù ěr huò chéng.
Like the age of the southern hills, Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; May such be thy succeeding line!

Pronunciation

Idiom

壽比南山

  1. Long may you live!

Synonyms

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia