寿比南山

Pronunciation: shòu bǐ nán shān Literal meaning: Longevity comparable to the Southern Mountains

Origin & Usage

寿 is 'long life', 比 is 'to compare with', and 南山 is the Southern Mountains, usually identified as the Zhongnan range south of the old Zhou capital near present-day Xi'an. The image goes back to the Book of Songs (《诗经》), in the ode 'Tian Bao' (《天保》), a blessing for a ruler: 'like the moon growing full, like the sun rising, like the long life of the southern hills, never failing, never falling' (如月之恒，如日之升，如南山之寿，不骞不崩). The four-character form is later; the History of the Southern Dynasties (《南史》) already mentions 愿陛下寿比南山, 'may Your Majesty live as long as the Southern Mountains', as a customary wish to an emperor. Today it is nearly always paired with 福如东海 (fortune like the Eastern Sea) as a birthday or New Year wish for elders. Use it for grandparents and older relatives, not peers.

Examples

English: "Every year the family raises a toast wishing Grandpa a life as long-lasting as the Southern Mountains."

Chinese: 在奶奶的寿宴上，大家一起祝她寿比南山。