📖 Meaning
A metaphor for great longevity, likening a person's lifespan to the long lives traditionally attributed to tortoises and cranes. It is commonly used as a congratulatory expression at birthday celebrations to wish someone a long and healthy life. It is a variant of the idiom '龟年鹤寿'.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in a Song dynasty ci poem by Wei Xiang (韦骧), titled '醉蓬莱·廷评庆寿' (Drunk in Lotus Lane: Celebrating the Birthday of the Court Judge). In the poem, the author expresses wishes for the honoree's longevity, writing '惟愿增高，龟年鹤算，鸿恩紫诏' — hoping only for greater advancement, long life like tortoise and crane, and imperial favor. The tortoise and crane are traditional Chinese symbols of long life, as both were believed to live for many centuries. Over time the expression became a standard term for wishing someone a long life.
💡 Example Usage
祝祖父龟年鹤算，福寿康宁。
I wish Grandfather a long life like the tortoise and crane, blessed with happiness, longevity, health, and peace.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 龟年鹤算
- Pinyin: guī nián hè suàn
- Literal Translation: turtle, years, crane, reckon
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4