寿终正寝 (shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn) — (idiom) to die a natural death (of old age); (figurative) to come to a natural end

Definition

Literally 'die naturally in one's proper bed' — used for both people dying of old age and (figuratively) things like traditions, businesses, or institutions that fade out on their own.

idiom
to die a natural death (of old age)(figurative) to come to a natural end

Examples

  • ，寿终正寝。
    Yé ye jīn nián jiǔ shí bā suì, shàng ge yuè shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn le.
    Grandpa was 98 this year and passed away naturally last month.
  • ，寿终正寝。
    Nà jiā lǎo zì hào jīng yíng le bā shí duō nián, zuì zhōng hái shì shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn le.
    That old-brand business had been running for over eighty years, but it eventually came to a natural end.
  • 寿终正寝，。
    Zhè ge chuán tǒng jié rì zài xiàn dài huà làng cháo zhōng shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn, hěn shǎo rén guò le.
    This traditional festival died a natural death in the tide of modernization; few people celebrate it now.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壽; 寿 is its simplified writing.

  • 耂耂lǎoold
  • 𢏚𢏚𢏚

The traditional form 壽 uses 耂 for old and a sound part 𢏚, plus added decorative marks; the simplified 寿 is a later shorthand.

Open 寿 →

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 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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 寢; 寝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
爿爿pánbed
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬶
𠬶𠬶寢qǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寢 has a 宀 roof and a 爿 bed, with a 𠬶 broom-and-hand part that gives the sound; the simplified 寝 is a later shorthand.

Open 寝 →

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