lok6 jip6 gwai1 gan1落葉歸根落叶归根

Jyutpinglok6 jip6 gwai1 gan1

Yalelohk yihp gwāi gān

Definition

A falling leaf returns to its roots; returning to one's homeland in old age.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of nostalgia and cultural duty towards one's ancestral home. It is frequently used to describe the emotional or physical journey of elderly overseas Chinese who choose to spend their final years in their place of birth. Unlike casual travel, it implies a permanent, final return.

Examples

keoi5佢lou5老zo2咗soeng2想lok6落jip6葉gwai1歸gan1根，faan2返hoeng1鄉haa6下zyu6住。

He wants to return to his roots in his old age and live in his hometown.

ji4移man4民gei2幾sap6十nin4年，keoi5佢ci2始zung1終gok3覺dak1得lok6落jip6葉gwai1歸gan1根zeoi3最zung6重jiu3要。

After emigrating for decades, he still feels that returning to one's roots is the most important thing.

Common phrases

daa2打syun3算lok6落jip6葉gwai1歸gan1根

plan to return to one's roots

syun2選zaak6擇lok6落jip6葉gwai1歸gan1根

choose to return to one's roots

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a simple vacation or a temporary visit to one's hometown. It specifically refers to a permanent return in the later stages of life.