白头偕老

Pronunciation: bái tóu xié lǎo Literal meaning: White heads together in old age

Origin & Usage

White (白) heads (头) reaching old age (老) side by side (偕). The Book of Songs supplies the wish — 及尔偕老, to grow old with you — and the white hair was added later to give it a picture. It is a blessing rather than a description: nobody says it about a marriage in progress. It is said at weddings and anniversaries and written on red envelopes, and what it asks for is duration, which is the one thing a wedding cannot promise.

Examples

English: "They wished the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together."

Chinese: 他们祝愿新婚夫妇白头偕老。