安土重迁
安土重迁 (ān tǔ zhòng qiān) literally means “content with soil, reluctant to move” and expresses “prefer stability; reluctant to relocate”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: an tu zhong qian, an tu zhong qian,安土重迁 meaning, 安土重迁 in english
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Pronunciation: ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Literal meaning: Content with soil, reluctant to move
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes being content (安) with one's land (土) and reluctant (重) to relocate (迁). It reflects traditional agricultural societies where land was life and moving was avoided. The phrase captures conservative attachment to place. Modern usage describes the preference for stability over change, the reluctance to leave familiar surroundings even for potential improvements.
Examples
English: "Rural communities often maintain strong attachment to their land."
Chinese: 农村社区往往安土重迁，对土地有强烈的依恋。
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yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 安土重迁 mean in English?
安土重迁 (ān tǔ zhòng qiān) literally translates to “Content with soil, reluctant to move” and is used to express “Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 安土重迁 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving prefer stability; reluctant to relocate.
What is the pinyin for 安土重迁?
The pinyin pronunciation for 安土重迁 is “ān tǔ zhòng qiān”.