年逾古稀

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: nián yú gǔ xī
• English Translation: Past the age of seventy (venerable age)
• Idiom Composition: 「年」（Age or years）＋「逾」（To exceed or surpass）＋「古稀」（Seventy years of age (literally 'ancient rarity')）
• Meaning: To be over seventy years old. This formal expression is used to describe someone who has reached a venerable age, often implying respect for their longevity and life experience.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「年逾古稀」 contains the following nuances:

• Age Definition: While 古稀 (gǔ xī) specifically refers to the age of seventy, the character 逾 (yú) means 'to exceed.' Therefore, 年逾古稀 (nián yú gǔ xī) refers to someone who is in their seventies or older.
• Tone and Respect: This idiom is more elegant and respectful than common terms for 'old.' It is preferred in formal writing, biographies, and news reports to acknowledge the subject's long life and accumulated wisdom.

3. Usage

「年逾古稀」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Introductions and Profiles: Used when introducing distinguished scholars, artists, or elders to convey a sense of dignity and respect for their age.
  • Example:「这位教授虽已年逾古稀，但依然坚持在大学授课。」
    （Although this professor is already over seventy years old, he still insists on teaching at the university.）
• Describing Health and Vitality: Used to emphasize that someone is still active despite their age, or conversely, to explain why they might need extra care.
  • Example:「父亲年逾古稀，腿脚不太灵便，出门需要人搀扶。」
    （My father is past the age of seventy, and his legs are not very flexible, so he needs someone to support him when he goes out.）
• Lifelong Achievements: Used to praise individuals who remain active or start new endeavors late in life.
  • Example:「他年逾古稀才开始学习绘画，如今已是小有名气的画家。」
    （He only started learning to paint after he was over seventy, and now he is a well-known artist.）

Additional Examples:

1. 看着年逾古稀的父母，我希望能多花时间陪伴他们。
   （Looking at my parents who are over seventy years old, I wish I could spend more time with them.）
2. 这位老中医年逾古稀，行医经验非常丰富。
   （This traditional Chinese medicine doctor is past seventy and has very rich clinical experience.）
3. 虽然年逾古稀，他的思维却依然敏捷。
   （Although he is over seventy, his thinking is still very sharp.）
4. 对于一位年逾古稀的老人来说，这样的长途旅行太辛苦了。
   （For an elderly person past the age of seventy, such a long trip is too strenuous.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The idiom originates from the poem Qujiang (曲江) by the famous Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu (杜甫). The line reads: 'Debts for wine are common wherever I go, but reaching seventy years of age has been rare since ancient times' (人生七十古来稀).
• In Chinese culture, specific ages have poetic names. For example, 30 is 而立 (ér lì), 40 is 不惑 (bù huò), 50 is 知天命 (zhī tiān mìng), 60 is 花甲 (huā jiǎ), and 70 is 古稀 (gǔ xī).
• In the modern era, living to seventy is no longer 'rare' (稀) due to medical advances, but the term remains a standard way to honor the elderly.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 古稀之年 (gǔ xī zhī nián): Refers to the age of seventy itself.
  • 耄耋之年 (mào dié zhī nián): Refers to an even more advanced age, specifically the eighties and nineties.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 风华正茂 (fēng huá zhèng mào): To be in the prime of one's youth and full of talent.
  • 血气方刚 (xuè qì fāng gāng): To be young and full of vitality (often used to describe youthful energy or impulsiveness).
  • 朝气蓬勃 (zhāo qì péng bó): Full of youthful vigor and vitality.link

6. Summary

The idiom 年逾古稀 (nián yú gǔ xī) is derived from a famous Tang Dynasty poem. It combines 逾 (yú), meaning to exceed, with 古稀 (gǔ xī), a literary term for the age of seventy. It is a respectful and formal way to refer to the elderly in written Chinese, biographies, or formal introductions.