📖 Meaning
An elegant classical description of advanced old age — teeth grown loose and hair turned silvery-white. It is used to refer to venerable, aged elders who are worthy of respect due to their years.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase comes from the Wen Xuan (Selections of Refined Literature), an anthology compiled during the Southern Dynasties Liang period by Crown Prince Xiao Tong, in a memorial by the writer Ren Fang (任昉). Ren Fang wrote of venerable elders and devoted scholars: 'As for the old with loose teeth and silvery hair, and the young devoted to studying the classics, none fails to revere them as masters and treat them with reverence.' The imagery of shaky teeth and white hair subsequently became a literary shorthand for the elderly.
💡 Example Usage
村里的几位老人虽已齿危发秀，却仍每日聚于古榕树下切磋棋艺，谈笑风生。
Though the village elders have reached shaky-toothed, silver-haired old age, they still gather each day beneath the old banyan tree to play chess and chat with lively spirits.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 齿危发秀
- Pinyin: chǐ wēi fā xiù
- Literal Translation: teeth, loose, hair, silvery
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4