历久弥新 (lì jiǔ mí xīn) — (idiom) becomes more vibrant, fresh, or relevant over time; unfading

Definition

A set chengyu meaning something 'grows fresher with time' — a classic work, idea, or friendship that stays vivid or relevant the longer it lasts. A written, literary phrase; not used in casual speech.

idiom
becomes more vibrantfreshor relevant over timeunfading

Examples

  • 历久弥新，。
    Zhè xiē gǔ diǎn wén xué zuò pǐn lì jiǔ mí xīn, zhì jīn réng shēn shòu dú zhě xǐ ài.
    These classical literary works become more vibrant with age and are still loved by readers.
  • 历久弥新，。
    Tā men jǐ shí nián de yǒu yì lì jiǔ mí xīn, bǐ chū jiàn shí gèng jiā shēn hòu.
    Their decades-long friendship becomes fresher over time, even deeper than when they first met.
  • 历久弥新，。
    Zhè ge lǐ niàn lì jiǔ mí xīn, zài dāng jīn shè huì yī rán yǒu zhòng yào de zhǐ dǎo yì yì.
    This idea grows ever new and still holds important guiding significance in today's society.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

历久experience long time
历lìexperience久jiǔlong time
动宾Verb + object
弥新more fresh
弥mímore新xīnfresh
偏正Modifier + head

历久 is long time passing, and 弥新 is becoming fresh again, together giving unfading freshness.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歷; 历 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 历 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (简历, 经历) it is 歷; in others (日历) it is 曆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
厤
厤lì歷lì
Same sound today

The form 歷 pairs 止 with the sound part 厤.

Open 历 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
尔
尔ěr弥mí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 弥 pairs 弓 (bow) as its meaning part with 尔 as its sound part.

Open 弥 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斤斤jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn新xīn
Same sound today

The shape originally paired 斤, for chopping wood, with 辛 for sound. It was borrowed for its sound to write 新, so the chopping-wood parts are unrelated to 'new'.

Open 新 →

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