长盛不衰

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: cháng shèng bù shuāi
• English Translation: Everlasting prosperity (to remain popular or successful for a long time)
• Idiom Composition: 「长」（Long; for a long time）＋「盛」（Prosperous; flourishing; vigorous）＋「不」（Not; no (negation)）＋「衰」（To decline; to wither; to grow weak）
• Meaning: A state of maintaining vigor, popularity, or prosperity over a long period without declining. It is used to positively describe things like culture, art, brands, or phenomena that continue to be supported across generations.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「长盛不衰」 contains the following nuances:

• Sustained Prosperity: Refers to prosperity that involves long-term stability and growth rather than a temporary boom or a short-lived trend.
• Broad Application: Can be applied to a wide range of subjects, from abstract concepts like civilizations and theories to concrete entities like businesses and products.

3. Usage

「长盛不衰」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Culture and Art: Used to describe how classical literature or traditional arts maintain their value and continue to be loved in the modern era.
  • Example:「这部经典小说历经百年依然长盛不衰，深受读者喜爱。」
    （This classic novel has remained popular for over a century and is deeply loved by readers.）
• Business and Brands: Used to praise time-honored companies or long-selling products that maintain their market position despite fierce competition.
  • Example:「这家老字号餐厅凭借独特的口味，几十年来生意长盛不衰。」
    （Thanks to its unique flavor, this time-honored restaurant's business has remained prosperous for decades.）
• Vitality and Popularity: Describes how a certain spirit, ideology, or activity like a sport maintains its vitality without fading away.
  • Example:「足球运动在全球范围内长盛不衰，拥有无数狂热粉丝。」
    （Football remains ever-popular worldwide, boasting countless passionate fans.）

Additional Examples:

1. 要想让企业长盛不衰，必须不断创新。
   （To keep a company prospering in the long run, one must constantly innovate.）
2. 这种传统的民间艺术至今仍然长盛不衰。
   （This traditional folk art is still flourishing today.）
3. 他的理论在学术界长盛不衰，影响了一代又一代的学者。
   （His theory has remained influential in academia, affecting generations of scholars.）
4. 保持好奇心是让创造力长盛不衰的秘诀。
   （Maintaining curiosity is the secret to keeping one's creativity from ever fading.）
5. 这座古城作为贸易中心，曾经历过数百年的长盛不衰。
   （As a trade center, this ancient city experienced centuries of uninterrupted prosperity.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• While not originating from a specific historical fable, 长盛不衰 (cháng shèng bù shuāi) is a frequently used complimentary phrase in modern Chinese. It is especially favored when evaluating 'enduring value' or 'sustainability' in a rapidly changing modern society.
• It is rarely used to describe a person's physical lifespan. Instead, it refers to a person's reputation, influence, career, or to organizations, cultures, and trends.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 经久不衰 (jīng jiǔ bù shuāi): Enduring without decline. Very similar to 长盛不衰 (cháng shèng bù shuāi), but focuses more on the durability and persistence over time.
  • 繁荣昌盛 (fán róng chāng shèng): Prosperous and flourishing. Emphasizes the scale and grandeur of prosperity, often used for nations or economies.
  • 万古长青 (wàn gǔ liú fāng): To last forever; to be immortal.link
  • 欣欣向荣 (xīn xīn xiàng róng): To describe flourishing and prosperous growth.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 昙花一现 (tán huā yí xiàn): A flash in the pan. Like the brief blooming of the Epiphyllum flower, it describes something wonderful that disappears quickly.
  • 每况愈下 (měi kuàng yù xià): To go from bad to worse. Describes a situation that steadily deteriorates over time.
  • 江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià): Things are getting worse day by day.link
  • 盛极一时 (shèng jí yī shí): To be at the height of one's power or popularity for a period of time.link

6. Summary

长盛不衰 (cháng shèng bù shuāi) is a positive idiom used to describe something that remains prosperous or popular over a long duration. Whether in business, culture, or art, it emphasizes that the subject's value is recognized across different eras, standing in direct contrast to fleeting trends.