日薄西山

rìbó-xīshān

idiom

Meanings

1 the sun sinking toward the western hills
2 nearing the end of life
3 a person or regime in decline

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

老人已经日薄西山，儿孙赶回家探望。

Lǎorén yǐjīng rìbó-xīshān, érsūn gǎnhuí jiā tànwàng.

The old man was nearing his end, and his descendants rushed home to see him.

HSK 7-9

这个行业日薄西山，转型势在必行。

Zhège hángyè rìbó-xīshān, zhuǎnxíng shìzàibìxíng.

This industry is in twilight; transformation is inevitable.

HSK 7-9

帝国已经日薄西山，再也无力回天。

Dìguó yǐjīng rìbó-xīshān, zàiyě wúlìhuítiān.

The empire's sun had set - nothing could reverse its fall.

Tips

history

From 晋·李密《陈情表》: 但以刘日薄西山，气息奄奄 - 'only because [grandmother] Liu is like the sun sinking behind the western hills, her breath faint.' Li Mi wrote this to beg off imperial service to care for his dying grandmother; one of the most famous petitions in Chinese history.

Stroke Order

日 rì

薄 báo

西 xī

山 shān