悠然见南山

悠然見南山

yōu rán jiàn nán shān

quotation

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

HSK 3

退休后他过上了悠然见南山的生活。

Tuìxiū hòu tā guòshàng le yōuránjiànnánshān de shēnghuó.

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

HSK 7-9

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 hēchá, yōuránjiànnánshān, xīnqíng tèbié fàngsōng.

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

Tips

history

From 陶渊明 's 《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