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化作春泥更护花

化作春泥更護花
huà zuò chūnní gèng hù huā
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 even as fallen petals, they turn into spring soil and shelter new blooms
  2. 2 fig. to give oneself up to nurture the next generation
  3. 3 Gong Zizhen's image of self-sacrificial devotion

Examples

HSK 5
老教师一辈子化作春泥更护花。
Lǎo jiàoshī yíbèizi huà zuò chūnní gèng hù huā.
The old teacher spent a lifetime 'turning into spring soil to nurture new blooms.'
HSK 7-9
父母的付出就是落红不是无情物，化作春泥更护花。
Fùmǔ de fùchū jiùshì luòhóng bú shì wúqíng wù, huà zuò chūnní gèng hù huā.
A parent's sacrifice is exactly 'fallen petals are not heartless things - they become spring soil to shelter the flowers.'

Tips

history
The closing line of Gong Zizhen's 龚自珍 late-Qing poem 《己亥杂诗·其五》 (Miscellaneous Poems of 1839, no. 5): 浩荡离愁白日斜，吟鞭东指即天涯。落红不是无情物，化作春泥更护花。 - 'Vast parting sorrow under the slanting sun; my whip points east toward the edge of the sky. Fallen petals are not without feeling - they turn into spring soil and shelter still more flowers.' Written when Gong resigned from office and left Beijing.
usage
Always paired with the preceding line 落红不是无情物. The standard poetic compliment to teachers, parents, and retired officials who 'nurture the next generation.' Extremely common on Teachers' Day cards.

Stroke Order

化 huà
作 zuò
春 chūn
泥 ní
更 gèng
护 hù
花 huā