📖 Meaning
The chrysanthemum (黄花) blooms in late autumn when other flowers have withered, symbolizing noble conduct in one's declining years. This idiom praises a person who maintains high moral integrity and virtue even in old age. It celebrates the steadfastness of character that endures like the chrysanthemum's fragrance through the cold.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a poem by Han Qi (韩琦), a prominent statesman and poet of the Song Dynasty, titled 'Ninth Day in the Small Pavilion' (《九日小阁》). The poem contains the line: 'Do not mind that the old garden's autumn appearance is pale; just look at how the cold flowers keep their fragrance in the late season.' Han Qi used the chrysanthemum, which blooms in cold late autumn when other flowers have faded, as a metaphor for maintaining one's moral integrity in one's later years. The image of the resilient late-autumn flower became a lasting symbol of noble character in old age.
💡 Example Usage
这位老科学家一生廉洁，晚节黄花，令人敬仰。
This elderly scientist lived a life of integrity and maintained noble virtue in his later years, commanding deep respect.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 晚节黄花
- Pinyin: wǎn jié huáng huā
- Literal Translation: late, integrity, yellow, flower
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4