悠然见南山

悠然見南山

yōuránjiànnánshān

phrase

Meanings

1 leisurely catching sight of the southern mountain — an image of unhurried, detached contentment
2 literally: in a relaxed manner, one sees the southern mountain

Characters

Examples

周末在乡下小院喝茶，悠然见南山，心情特别放松。

Zhōumò zài xiāngxià xiǎo yuàn hē chá, yōu rán jiàn nán shān, xīnqíng tèbié fàngsōng.

Drinking tea in a countryside courtyard on the weekend, leisurely catching sight of the mountains — deeply relaxing.

退休后他过上了悠然见南山的生活。

Tuìxiū hòu tā guò shàng le yōu rán jiàn nán shān de shēnghuó.

After retiring, he took up the serene life of 'leisurely gazing at the southern mountain'.

Tips

history

From Tao Yuanming's (陶渊明) 《饮酒·其五》 (Drinking Wine, V), Eastern Jin. The couplet reads: 采菊东篱下，悠然见南山 — 'I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge; leisurely, I catch sight of the southern mountain.' Having resigned his post rather than serve a corrupt court, Tao retreated to farming; the poem is the archetypal image of the recluse life (隐逸). 南山 likely refers to Lushan (庐山).

usage

Paired couplet with 采菊东篱下. Symbol of chosen simplicity, reclusion, work-life detachment. Common in marketing for countryside tourism, tea, real estate, early retirement content.

Stroke Order

悠 yōu

然 rán

见 jiàn

南 nán

山 shān