衣锦还乡

衣錦還鄉

yījǐnhuánxiāng

idiom #41,640

Meanings

1 to return home in silken robes
2 to come home in glory after success
3 to return triumphant

Characters

Examples

他考上状元后衣锦还乡。

Tā kǎoshàng zhuàngyuán hòu yījǐn huánxiāng.

After passing first in the exams, he returned home in glory.

多年打拼，她终于衣锦还乡。

Duōnián dǎpīn, tā zhōngyú yījǐn huánxiāng.

After years of struggle, she finally came home triumphant.

古人以衣锦还乡为荣。

Gǔrén yǐ yījǐn huánxiāng wéi róng.

The ancients saw returning home in glory as a great honor.

Tips

culture

Rooted in the imperial exam system and feudal prestige: returning to your hometown rich or ennobled was the dream outcome for scholars and officials. Still used today, sometimes ironically.

Stroke Order

衣 yī

锦 jǐn

还 hái

乡 xiāng