📖 Meaning
A felicitous expression meaning one's fortune and longevity are as great and vast as heaven itself. It is used as a congratulatory blessing, typically wishing someone abundant blessings, happiness, and a very long life. The phrase raises the wish to a grand, almost divine scale.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the Ming dynasty anonymous zaju (variety play) '贺元宵' (Celebrating the Lantern Festival), third act, in which a character says: '俺从神圣降临下方，庆贺了元宵，祝延圣主福寿齐天也' — the sacred beings descend to the mortal world, celebrate the festival, and wish the sage ruler blessings and longevity equal to heaven. It is a congratulatory blessing (祝颂之辞) used to praise rulers and elders. The expression also appears in another Ming anonymous play, '广成子' (third act), where officials gather to offer their congratulations.
💡 Example Usage
会众官同来称贺，齐祝赞福寿齐天。
All the officials came together to offer their congratulations, joining in praise and wishing him blessings and longevity equal to heaven.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 福寿齐天
- Pinyin: fú shòu qí tiān
- Literal Translation: fortune, longevity, equal to, heaven
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4