年年岁岁花相似

年年歲歲花相似
Niánnián suìsuì huā xiāng sì
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 year after year the flowers look the same
  2. 2 nature repeats while human life fades
  3. 3 line by Tang poet Liu Xiyi contrasting timeless nature with mortal lives

Examples

HSK 7-9
Niánniánsuìsuìhuāxiāngsì, suìsuìniánniánrénbùtóng, shíguāng liúshì, wùshìrénfēi.
The flowers look the same year after year, but the people change - time flows on and faces fade.
HSK 7-9
Huídào mǔxiào, niánniánsuìsuìhuāxiāngsì, zhǐshì tóngxué dōu yǐ gèbēndōngxī.
Back at my old school, the flowers look the same year after year - but classmates have all scattered.

Tips

history
出自唐代刘希夷代悲白头翁》:年年岁岁花相似岁岁年年人不同传说刘希夷的舅父宋之问非常喜爱此句,甚至为夺此诗害死外甥,历史真伪已难考证。
usage
必须与下句岁岁年年人不同对仗使用,表达物是人非的感慨。

Stroke Order

nián
suì
huā
xiāng