ji4 joeng5 tin1 nin4頤養天年颐养天年
Jyutpingji4 joeng5 tin1 nin4
Yaleyìh yéuhng tīn nìhn
Definition
To spend one's remaining years happily; to enjoy one's retirement.
writtenpeopletime
How it's used
This is a formal idiom often used to describe the ideal retirement life, focusing on peace, comfort, and leisure. It carries a sense of respect and well-wishing, making it a common phrase to use when talking about elderly relatives or mentors. Unlike casual expressions for relaxing, this implies a long-term, settled state of contentment after a lifetime of hard work.
Examples
After he retired, he went back to his hometown to spend his remaining years in peace.
Related words
Common phrases
return to one's hometown to spend one's remaining years
Common mistake
Because this is a formal idiom, it sounds unnatural if used to describe someone who is still young or middle-aged, even if they are taking a break. It is strictly reserved for the elderly stage of life.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
