📖 Meaning
Literally 'a fisherman amid the misty waves,' this idiom refers to a recluse who lives in seclusion on the rivers and lakes, fishing among the hazy, smoke-like waters. It describes someone who has turned away from officialdom and worldly ambition to pursue a carefree, hermit-like life close to nature.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the New Book of Tang (《新唐书》), in the biography of the Tang dynasty poet and scholar Zhang Zhihe (张志和). After his parents passed away, he no longer sought office and withdrew to live among the rivers and lakes, calling himself 'the fisherman of the misty waves' (烟波钓徒). Zhang Zhihe was also famous for his pastoral fishing lyrics, such as the well-known song '渔歌子', which portray this idyllic, untethered existence.
💡 Example Usage
他厌倦了官场，辞官归隐，从此做了个烟波钓徒。
Weary of official life, he resigned his post and retired to the lakes, becoming a fisherman amid the misty waves.
🏷️ Category
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🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 烟波钓徒
- Pinyin: yān bō diào tú
- Literal Translation: misty waves, fishing, person
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4