五十而知天命

wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 at fifty, I knew heaven's will
  2. 2 at fifty, one understands one's destiny

Examples

HSK 7-9
Sìshí ér bù huò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng.
At forty, free from doubt; at fifty, knowing heaven's will.
HSK 7-9
Tā jīnnián wǔshí, guǒrán wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, xīntài yuèláiyuè pínghé.
He turned fifty this year - truly 'at fifty, knowing heaven's will' - increasingly at peace with himself.

Tips

history
From 《论语·为政》 (Analects). Part of Confucius's six-stage autobiography: 吾十有五而志于学三十而立四十而不惑五十而知天命六十而耳顺七十而从心所欲不逾矩知天命 became a set phrase for being fifty years old and is still used in birthday congratulations and obituaries.
usage
Always part of the Confucian age-set. 知天命之年 = 'the age of fifty' is a polite phrase in modern speech.

Stroke Order

shí
ér
zhī
tiān
mìng