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长命百岁 (cháng mìng bǎi suì) — a wish for longevity (may you live a hundred years); traditional blessing for long life

Definition

A traditional Chinese blessing meaning 'may you live a hundred years', typically said to elders on birthdays, New Year, or other celebratory occasions. It is a set chengyu — used as a fixed formulaic phrase, not constructed word by word.

idiom
a wish for longevity (may you live a hundred years)traditional blessing for long life

Examples

  • 长命百岁，！
    Zhù yé ye cháng mìng bǎi suì, shēn tǐ jiàn kāng!
    Wishing Grandpa a long life and good health!
  • ，长命百岁。
    Nǎi nai guò shēng rì, dà jiā dōu zhù tā cháng mìng bǎi suì.
    At Grandma's birthday, everyone wished her a long life.
  • “长命百岁”。
    Chūn jié shí wǎn bèi duì lǎo rén shuō "cháng mìng bǎi suì" shì zuì cháng jiàn de zhù fú zhī yī.
    During Spring Festival, saying 'May you live a long life' to elders is one of the most common blessings.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

长命long life
长chánglong命mìnglife
偏正Modifier + head
百岁hundred years
百bǎihundred岁suìyears
偏正Modifier + head

The wish for 命 to be 长 is paired with the wish for 岁 to reach 百, both expressing long life.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

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 →

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 歲; 岁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
步步bù
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè歲suì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 歲, the part 步 shows movement over time, and 戉 gives the sound; this explanation is about 歲, not the simplified 岁.

Open 岁 →
Appears in
Chinese Culture & CustomsIdioms & Set Phrases

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