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古来征战几人回

古來征戰幾人回
gǔláizhēngzhànjǐrénhuí
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 of those who went to war, how many ever came back?
  2. 2 (fig.) the timeless tragedy of war — few soldiers return home
  3. 3 (lit.) from ancient-times on-campaign, how many people return

Examples

参观军人墓园时，他低声念道古来征战几人回。
Cānguān jūnrén mùyuán shí, tā dīshēng niàn dào gǔlái zhēngzhàn jǐ rén huí.
Visiting the military cemetery, he softly quoted 'of those who went to war, how many ever came back?'
这部反战电影结尾打出了古来征战几人回。
Zhè bù fǎnzhàn diànyǐng jiéwěi dǎchū le gǔlái zhēngzhàn jǐ rén huí.
The anti-war film ends by displaying the line 'of those who went to war, how many ever came back?'

Tips

history
From 王翰《凉州词》(Wang Han, Tang, early 8th c.): 葡萄美酒夜光杯，欲饮琵琶马上催。醉卧沙场君莫笑，古来征战几人回 (Fine grape wine in the jade cup of glowing night; wishing to drink, the pipa on horseback urges me on. If I fall drunk on the battlefield, don't laugh, sir — from ancient times, how many who went to war ever came back?). A frontier-poem classic, at once reckless and elegiac.
usage
Almost always quoted with its preceding 醉卧沙场君莫笑. 征战 = military campaign, going on a distant expedition. 几 here = 'how many' (rhetorical, implying few). A staple quote at war memorials and anti-war discussions.

Stroke Order

古 gǔ
来 lái
征 zhēng
战 zhàn
几 jǐ
人 rén
回 huí