遗臭万年

遺臭萬年

yíchòu-wànnián

idiom #32,273

Meanings

1 to leave a stench for ten thousand years
2 to go down in history as infamous
3 to be remembered with eternal disgrace

Characters

to leave behind

stench; bad smell

Examples

HSK 4

他不在乎自己会不会遗臭万年。

Tā búzàihu zìjǐ huì búhuì yíchòu-wànnián.

He doesn't care whether he'll go down in history as infamous.

HSK 6

卖国求荣的人必将遗臭万年。

Mài guó qiú róng de rén bìjiāng yíchòu-wànnián.

Those who sell out their country for personal gain will be remembered with eternal disgrace.

Tips

history

From 《晋书·桓温传》 (Book of Jin): the Eastern Jin general 桓温 declared, 既不能流芳百世，不足复遗臭万载耶, 'If I can't have my fragrance flow for a hundred generations, isn't leaving a stench for ten thousand years good enough?' The phrase pairs naturally with its antonym 流芳百世 ('have one's fragrance pass down a hundred generations').

usage

Reserved for serious moral condemnation: traitors, war criminals, dictators. Not for everyday wrongdoing. Often paired with 千古罪人 ('sinner of the ages').

Stroke Order

遗 yí

臭 chòu

万 wàn

年 nián