七十古来稀

七十古來稀

qīshígǔláixī

phrase

Meanings

1 to reach seventy has always been rare
2 (fig., idiomatic) seventy is old age; the source of 古稀 as a term for seventy years old
3 (lit.) seventy — since-olden-times — rare

Characters

come (古来 = since antiquity)

稀

xī

rare

Examples

人生七十古来稀，这个寿命在古代很少见。

Rénshēng qīshí gǔ lái xī, zhège shòumìng zài gǔdài hěn shǎo jiàn.

'A life of seventy has always been rare' — in ancient times such longevity was uncommon.

他办了古稀宴，引用了人生七十古来稀。

Tā bànle gǔxī yàn, yǐnyòngle rénshēng qīshí gǔ lái xī.

He held his 70th-birthday banquet, quoting 'a life of seventy has always been rare.'

Tips

history

From 杜甫《曲江二首·其二》 (Du Fu, Tang, 758): 酒债寻常行处有，人生七十古来稀。穿花蛱蝶深深见，点水蜻蜓款款飞 (Wine debts are common wherever I go; a life of seventy has been rare since ancient times. Butterflies deep among the flowers come into view; dragonflies dot the water, gliding gently). This line gave Chinese the standard term 古稀 (gǔxī) for 'seventy years old' — still used at 70th-birthday celebrations today.

usage

Usually quoted in its full form 人生七十古来稀. 古稀 alone is a productive noun meaning '70 years old' — e.g. 年逾古稀 'past seventy.' Other age honorifics of the same family: 而立 (30), 不惑 (40), 知命 (50), 耳顺 (60), 古稀 (70), 耄耋 (80-90).

Stroke Order

七 qī

十 shí

古 gǔ

来 lái

稀 xī