采菊东篱下

採菊東籬下

cǎijúdōnglíxià

phrase

Meanings

1 plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge — an image of the retired, unworldly life
2 literally: pick chrysanthemums, beneath the eastern hedge

Characters

Examples

他向往采菊东篱下的闲适生活。

Tā xiàngwǎng cǎi jú dōng lí xià de xiánshì shēnghuó.

He yearns for the easy life of 'plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge'.

辞职回乡，他真的过上了采菊东篱下的日子。

Cízhí huí xiāng, tā zhēn de guò shàng le cǎi jú dōng lí xià de rìzi.

Quitting his job and returning home, he truly took up the chrysanthemum-plucking life.

Tips

history

From Tao Yuanming's (陶渊明) 《饮酒·其五》 (Drinking Wine, V), Eastern Jin. Couplet: 采菊东篱下，悠然见南山 — 'I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge; leisurely I see the southern mountain.' Tao had famously quit his post rather than 'bow for five pecks of rice'. The chrysanthemum, blooming in cold autumn, became the emblem of the dignified recluse — and Tao its patron saint.

usage

Paired couplet with 悠然见南山. Invokes the ideal of the cultured hermit — retirement by choice, not failure. Often cited in articles on work-life balance, rural downshifting, or the appeal of tea / chrysanthemum / garden culture.

Stroke Order

采 cǎi

菊 jú

东 dōng

篱 lí

下 xià