落叶归根
落叶归根 (luò yè guī gēn) literally means “falling leaves return to roots” and expresses “return to one's roots; go back home”. 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: luo ye gui gen, luo ye gui gen,落叶归根 meaning, 落叶归根 in english
Return to one's roots; go back home
Pronunciation: luò yè guī gēn
Literal meaning: Falling leaves return to roots
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes falling (落) leaves (叶) returning (归) to their roots (根). Just as leaves fall and nourish the tree that produced them, people often return to their origins. The phrase captures the pull of one's homeland. Modern usage describes returning to one's birthplace or origins, especially after spending years away, recognizing the deep connection to where one began.
Examples
English: "After years abroad, he returned to his hometown to retire."
Chinese: 在海外多年后，他落叶归根，回到家乡退休。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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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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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 落叶归根 mean in English?
落叶归根 (luò yè guī gēn) literally translates to “Falling leaves return to roots” and is used to express “Return to one's roots; go back home”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 落叶归根 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving return to one's roots; go back home.
What is the pinyin for 落叶归根?
The pinyin pronunciation for 落叶归根 is “luò yè guī gēn”.