莫道桑榆晚

mò dào sāng yú wǎn
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 do not say that the mulberry-and-elm hour is late
  2. 2 fig. don't say it's too late in life - evening years can still be glorious
  3. 3 a rallying line for the elderly

Examples

HSK 5
Mòdàosāngyúwǎn, lǎorén hái néng fāhuī hěn dà zuòyòng.
Don't say the evening of life is late - older people can still contribute greatly.
HSK 7-9
Tuìxiū hòu tā kāishǐ xué huàhuà, zhēnshì mòdàosāngyúwǎn.
After retiring he started painting - truly, don't call the twilight years late.

Tips

history
From 刘禹锡 Tang poem 《酬乐天咏老见示》 (In Reply to Bai Juyi's Verse on Old Age): 莫道桑榆晚,为霞尚满天。 - 'Do not say the mulberry-and-elm hour is late; its afterglow still fills the sky.' 桑榆 (the mulberry and elm trees where the setting sun rests) was a classical metaphor for the final stage of life.
usage
Almost always paired with 为霞尚满天. A canonical uplifting line cited at retirement parties, senior-citizen events, and in political speeches about the contributions of elders.

Stroke Order

dào
sāng
wǎn