📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to someone whose age has surpassed seventy years old. The term '古稀' comes from the classical observation that reaching seventy was rare since ancient times. It is used to describe elderly people who are over seventy.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (杜甫) titled 'Qujiang' (《曲江》). In the poem, Du Fu wrote the famous line '人生七十古来稀' — 'since ancient times, few people have lived to seventy.' The phrase '古稀' (anciently rare) thus became a literary way to denote the age of seventy. Adding '年逾' (age exceeding) forms an expression for someone over seventy years old.
💡 Example Usage
他虽年逾古稀，但身体依然硬朗，每天坚持晨练。
Though he is already over seventy years old, he remains hale and hearty, sticking to his morning exercises every day.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 年逾古稀
- Pinyin: nián yú gǔ xī
- Literal Translation: age, exceeds, ancient, rare
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4