白发人 (bái fā) — white-haired person; elderly person

Definition

Literary phrase for a 'white-haired person,' used poetically for the elderly, often paired with 黑发人 (young person) in contrast. Most common in the set phrase 白发人送黑发人 ('parents burying their children'), a deeply sorrowful expression.

noun

white-haired personelderly person

Measure word · 个

Examples

白发人。
Nà wèi bái fā zuò zài gōng yuán cháng yǐ shàng kàn zhe xī yáng.
That white-haired person sat on the park bench watching the sunset.
白发人，。
bái fā Sòng hēi fà rén, lìng rén wú xiàn gǎn kǎi.
The elderly burying the young is truly heart-wrenching.
白发人。
Cūn zi lǐ jǐ wèi bái fā zhèng zài shù xià liáo tiān.
A few white-haired elders in the village are chatting under the tree.

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