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古来征战几人回

古來征戰幾人回
gǔlái zhēngzhàn jǐ rén huí
quotation

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

HSK 7-9
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 gǔláizhēngzhànjǐrénhuí.
Visiting the military cemetery, he softly quoted 'of those who went to war, how many ever came back?'
HSK 7-9
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 gǔláizhēngzhànjǐrénhuí.
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