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遗臭万年

遺臭萬年
yíchòuwànnián
idiom #32,273

Meanings

  1. 1 to leave a stench for ten thousand years
  2. 2 to go down in history as infamous
  3. 3 to be remembered with eternal disgrace

Examples

卖国求荣的人必将遗臭万年。
Màiguó qiúróng de rén bì jiāng yíchòuwànnián.
Those who sell out their country for personal gain will be remembered with eternal disgrace.
他不在乎自己会不会遗臭万年。
Tā bú zàihu zìjǐ huì bú huì yíchòuwànnián.
He doesn't care whether he'll go down in history as infamous.

Tips

history
From 《晋书·桓温传》 (Book of Jin, Biography of Huan Wen): the Eastern Jin general Huan Wen (桓温) declared, "既不能流芳百世，不足复遗臭万载耶？" — "If I can't have my fragrance flow for a hundred generations, isn't leaving a stench for ten thousand years good enough?" The phrase pairs naturally with its antonym 流芳百世 (liúfāngbǎishì, "have one's fragrance pass down a hundred generations").
usage
Reserved for serious moral condemnation — traitors, war criminals, dictators. Not for everyday wrongdoing. Often paired with 千古罪人 ("sinner of the ages").

Stroke Order

遗 yí
臭 chòu
万 wàn
年 nián