水落归槽

水落歸槽

shuǐluòguīcáo

idiom

Meanings

1 spilt water returns to the trough
2 (figurative) people end up where they belong; long-pending matters are finally settled

Characters

to fall / settle

Examples

经过几年漂泊，他终于水落归槽，回到了家乡。

Jīngguò jǐ nián piāobó, tā zhōngyú shuǐluòguīcáo, huídào le jiāxiāng.

After years of drifting, he finally returned home where he belonged.

这件事一定会水落归槽，得到妥善解决。

Zhè jiàn shì yīdìng huì shuǐluòguīcáo, dédào tuǒshàn jiějué.

This matter will surely settle into place and be properly resolved.

Tips

memory

Picture overflowed water finding its way back into the feeding trough — every drop ends up where it should. Compare with 水落石出 (shuǐluòshíchū, 'water recedes and stones appear; the truth comes out').

register

Less famous than its cousin 水落石出 — sounds slightly bookish in conversation.

Stroke Order

水 shuǐ

落 luò

归 guī

槽 cáo