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天伦之乐 (tiān lún zhī lè) — family love and joy; domestic bliss

Definition

A literary phrase for the joy of family togetherness, especially across generations (parents and children). Often used when elderly parents are reunited with their children.

phrase
family love and joydomestic bliss

Examples

  • ，，天伦之乐。
    Měi féng zhōng qiū jié, wǒ men quán jiā yì qǐ shǎng yuè, xiǎng shòu tiān lún zhī lè.
    Every Mid-Autumn Festival, our whole family watches the moon together and enjoys domestic bliss.
  • ，天伦之乐。
    Lǎo rén zuì pàn wàng de jiù shì hái zi men huí jiā, gòng xiǎng tiān lún zhī lè.
    What elderly people look forward to most is their children coming home and sharing family joy.
  • ，天伦之乐。
    Zài máng lù de shēng huó zhōng, tiān lún zhī lè xiǎn de gé wài zhēn guì.
    Amid a busy life, family love and joy become especially precious.

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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 倫; 伦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún倫lún
Same sound today

The traditional form 倫 uses 人 to show people and 侖 to give its sound; the simplified 伦 is a later shorthand.

Open 伦 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Open 乐 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Family & KinshipIdioms & Set Phrases

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