流芳百世
流芳百世 (liú fāng bǎi shì) literally means “fragrance flows for a hundred generations” and expresses “enduring good reputation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: liu fang bai shi, liu fang bai shi,流芳百世 meaning, 流芳百世 in english
Enduring good reputation
Pronunciation: liú fāng bǎi shì Literal meaning: Fragrance flows for a hundred generations
Origin & Usage
Huan Wen, who commanded the armies of Eastern Jin and considered taking the throne, is recorded speaking as he lay, then sitting abruptly up: a man unable to let his fragrance (芳) flow (流) down a hundred (百) generations (世) should at least leave a stench for ten thousand years. The pairing 流芳百世 and 遗臭万年 has been fixed ever since, and its logic is bleak: the thing he could not tolerate was neither honour nor infamy but being forgotten. Only the first half is in ordinary use, in eulogies, entirely without the ambition that produced it.
Examples
English: "Her contributions to education will leave a lasting legacy for future generations."
Chinese: 她对教育的贡献将流芳百世。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
举世闻名
jǔ shì wén míng
Global recognition
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举世瞩目
jǔ shì zhǔ mù
Global attention
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名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
Eternal legacy
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人定胜天
rén dìng shèng tiān
Human effort can overcome nature
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人才辈出
rén cái bèi chū
Continuous talent emergence
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首屈一指
shǒu qū yī zhǐ
Foremost; top-ranked
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出人头地
chū rén tóu dì
Achieve outstanding success
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后生可畏
hòu shēng kě wèi
Youthful potential
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 流芳百世 mean in English?
流芳百世 (liú fāng bǎi shì) literally translates to “Fragrance flows for a hundred generations” and is used to express “Enduring good reputation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 流芳百世 used?
Situation: Her contributions to education will leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
What is the pinyin for 流芳百世?
The pinyin pronunciation for 流芳百世 is “liú fāng bǎi shì”.
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