笑问客从何处来

笑問客從何處來

xiàowènkècónghéchùlái

phrase

Meanings

1 smiling, they ask where the guest has come from
2 the bittersweet moment of returning home a stranger

Characters

Examples

多年未归，村口的小孩笑问客从何处来。

Duō nián wèi guī, cūnkǒu de xiǎohái xiào wèn kè cóng hé chù lái.

Not having returned in years, the village children smiled and asked where the visitor was from.

这种笑问客从何处来的感觉，海外游子都懂。

Zhè zhǒng xiào wèn kè cóng hé chù lái de gǎnjué, hǎiwài yóuzǐ dōu dǒng.

Every overseas Chinese understands that feeling of 'being asked as a stranger where one is from.'

Tips

history

From 贺知章 He Zhizhang 《回乡偶书》: 儿童相见不相识，笑问客从何处来 — 'the children meet me but don't recognize me, and smiling ask where the guest has come from.' He Zhizhang came home after more than 50 years in the capital.

usage

处 here is chù (place). This is the full second line; see also the shorter 客从何处来. Almost always comes after 儿童相见不相识.

Stroke Order

笑 xiào

问 wèn

客 kè

从 cóng

何 hé

处 chù

来 lái