颐养天年

頤養天年
yíyǎng-tiānnián
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to live out one's natural life span in peace and comfort
  2. 2 to enjoy a tranquil retirement

Examples

HSK 4
Tuìxiū hòu tā huídào lǎojiā yíyǎng-tiānnián.
After retiring, he returned to his hometown to enjoy a peaceful old age.
HSK 5
Lǎorén xīnkǔ le yībèizi, yīnggāi hǎohao yíyǎng-tiānnián.
The old folks have worked hard their whole lives - they deserve to spend their later years in comfort.

Tips

register
Warm and respectful, used about elders. 天年 means the natural lifespan granted by Heaven, so the phrase implies dying peacefully of old age, not being cut short.
usage
Object of 颐养 is 天年 - the idiom is fixed, don't substitute. Often appears with 安享 in sentences like 安享晚年 / 颐养天年.

Stroke Order

yǎng
tiān
nián