五谷丰登
五谷丰登 (wǔ gǔ fēng dēng) literally means “the five grains ripen in abundance” and expresses “may the year bring abundance”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: wu gu feng deng, wu gu feng deng,五谷丰登 meaning, 五谷丰登 in english
May the year bring abundance
Pronunciation: wǔ gǔ fēng dēng Literal meaning: The five grains ripen in abundance
Origin & Usage
五谷 is 'the five grains', a traditional term for all staple crops (lists vary, but usually include millet, rice, wheat and beans), 丰 is 'abundant' and 登 here means 'to ripen' or 'be harvested'. The phrase means a good harvest of every crop. The idea is old: the strategy text 《六韬》 speaks of seasonable wind and rain bringing 五谷丰熟, 'the five grains ripen in abundance'. The exact wording 五谷丰登 appears in later fiction, including Journey to the West (《西游记》, chapter 44). In a farming society a good harvest meant a good year, so it became a standard New Year wish, often paired with 风调雨顺 (favourable wind and rain) on couplets and village gates. Today it is used as a general wish for abundance, and fits greetings to families, communities and anyone with rural roots.
Examples
English: "The village New Year banner wished everyone a bumper harvest in the coming year."
Chinese: 祝大家新的一年风调雨顺，五谷丰登！
Related Chinese Idioms
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xū huái ruò gǔ
Stay humble and open
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fēng gōng wěi jì
Outstanding contributions
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登堂入室
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Progress from basic to advanced
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登峰造极
dēng fēng zào jí
Reach highest attainable level
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五福临门
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May every kind of good fortune come to your home
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A bewildering variety; all kinds of
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一五一十
yī wǔ yī shí
Detail everything
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sān lìng wǔ shēn
Repeated, unmistakable instruction
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 五谷丰登 mean in English?
五谷丰登 (wǔ gǔ fēng dēng) literally translates to “The five grains ripen in abundance” and is used to express “May the year bring abundance”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 五谷丰登 used?
Situation: The village New Year banner wished everyone a bumper harvest in the coming year.
What is the pinyin for 五谷丰登?
The pinyin pronunciation for 五谷丰登 is “wǔ gǔ fēng dēng”.