衣锦还乡

衣錦還鄉

yījǐn-huánxiāng

idiom #41,640

Meanings

1 to return home in silken robes
2 to come home in glory after success
3 to return triumphant

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

多年打拼，她终于衣锦还乡。

Duōnián dǎpīn, tā zhōngyú yījǐn-huánxiāng.

After years of struggle, she finally came home triumphant.

HSK 7-9

他考上状元后衣锦还乡。

Tā kǎoshàng zhuàngyuán hòu yījǐn-huánxiāng.

After passing first in the exams, he returned home in glory.

HSK 7-9

古人以衣锦还乡为荣。

Gǔrén yǐ yījǐn-huánxiāng wéi róng.

The ancients saw returning home in glory as a great honor.

Tips

culture

Rooted in the imperial exam system and feudal prestige: returning to your hometown rich or ennobled was the dream outcome for scholars and officials. Still used today, sometimes ironically.

Stroke Order

衣 yī

锦 jǐn

还 hái

乡 xiāng