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流芳百世 (liú fāng bǎi shì) — to be remembered for one's good deeds for generations; to leave a lasting legacy

Definition

A formal, written chengyu meaning one's good name or reputation will be remembered for a hundred generations — used for great deeds or lasting legacy. The opposite in structure is 遗臭万年. Always written/spoken in formal contexts, never casual.

verb
to be remembered for one's good deeds for generationsto leave a lasting legacy

Examples

  • ，流芳百世。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā wèi rén lèi zuò chū le jù dà gòng xiàn, bì jiāng liú fāng bǎi shì.
    This scientist made great contributions to humanity and will be remembered for generations.
  • 流芳百世，。
    Tā de shàn xíng hé yì jǔ zú yǐ liú fāng bǎi shì, jī lì hòu rén.
    His good deeds and righteous acts are enough to leave a lasting legacy and inspire future generations.
  • ，流芳百世。
    Zhǐ yǒu zhēn zhèng wèi rén mín fú wù de rén, cái néng liú fāng bǎi shì.
    Only those who truly serve the people can be remembered for generations.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng芳fāng
Same sound today

芳 pairs 艸 (grass) with 方 (fāng); the 方 part gives the sound.

Open 芳 →

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
一一yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái百bǎi
Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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