鹤发童颜
鹤发童颜 (hè fà tóng yán) literally means “crane hair, child face” and expresses “youthful despite old age”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: he fa tong yan, he fa tong yan,鹤发童颜 meaning, 鹤发童颜 in english
Youthful despite old age
Pronunciation: hè fà tóng yán Literal meaning: Crane hair, child face
Origin & Usage
Hair (发) white as a crane's (鹤) with the face (颜) of a child (童). Both halves are drawn from Daoist longevity literature, where the crane is a standard emblem of long life and the retained childlike complexion is what successful cultivation was supposed to produce. The phrase does not simply mean old and healthy. It describes a specific and slightly uncanny combination, and it is a warm compliment paid to the vigorous old — most often to a teacher or a doctor.
Examples
English: "The 90-year-old professor maintained youthful energy despite his white hair"
Chinese: 这位90岁的教授尽管白发苍苍，却依然保持着年轻的活力
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
风声鹤唳
fēng shēng hè lì
Overly fearful and suspicious
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鹤立鸡群
hè lì jī qún
Stand out from crowd
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喜笑颜开
xǐ xiào yán kāi
Be beaming with joy
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返老还童
fǎn lǎo huán tóng
Regain vitality
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安居乐业
ān jū lè yè
Live peacefully and work happily
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安然无恙
ān rán wú yàng
Completely safe and unharmed through danger
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鸦雀无声
yā què wú shēng
Completely silent; so quiet you could hear a pin drop
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心安理得
xīn ān lǐ dé
Feel at ease with a clear conscience
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 鹤发童颜 mean in English?
鹤发童颜 (hè fà tóng yán) literally translates to “Crane hair, child face” and is used to express “Youthful despite old age”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 鹤发童颜 used?
Situation: The 90-year-old professor maintained youthful energy despite his white hair
What is the pinyin for 鹤发童颜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 鹤发童颜 is “hè fà tóng yán”.
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