五福临门
五福临门 (wǔ fú lín mén) literally means “five blessings arrive at the door” and expresses “may every kind of good fortune come to your home”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
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May every kind of good fortune come to your home
Pronunciation: wǔ fú lín mén Literal meaning: Five blessings arrive at the door
Origin & Usage
The five blessings come from the Book of Documents. The 'Great Plan' chapter (《尚书·洪范》) lists them: 'The five blessings: first, long life; second, wealth; third, health and peace; fourth, love of virtue; fifth, a natural death at the end of a full life' (五福：一曰寿，二曰富，三曰康宁，四曰攸好德，五曰考终命). The four-character phrase itself is a later folk formula with no single classical source; 临门 means 'arriving at the gate'. A late-Qing story collection, 《俗话倾谈》, observes that people commonly write 五福临门 over their doorways and explains the five from the classic. In everyday use the list is often replaced by a looser five, such as good fortune, official salary, longevity, joy and wealth (福禄寿喜财). It is above all a phrase for doors and couplets, and a generous wish for a whole household.
Examples
English: "May all five blessings arrive at your door this New Year."
Chinese: 大年初一，家家户户门上都贴着“五福临门”的春联。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
福星高照
fú xīng gāo zhào
May good luck and blessings follow you
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福如东海
fú rú dōng hǎi
May your good fortune be boundless
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五花八门
wǔ huā bā mén
A bewildering variety; all kinds of
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恭喜发财
gōng xǐ fā cái
Wishing you a prosperous New Year
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年年有余
nián nián yǒu yú
May you have more than enough, year after year
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岁岁平安
suì suì píng ān
May you stay safe and well every year
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大吉大利
dà jí dà lì
May everything be lucky and go smoothly
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花开富贵
huā kāi fù guì
May your life flourish in wealth and status
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 五福临门 mean in English?
五福临门 (wǔ fú lín mén) literally translates to “Five blessings arrive at the door” and is used to express “May every kind of good fortune come to your home”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 五福临门 used?
Situation: May all five blessings arrive at your door this New Year.
What is the pinyin for 五福临门?
The pinyin pronunciation for 五福临门 is “wǔ fú lín mén”.