白头偕老

Pinyin:bái tóu xié lǎo

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📖 Meaning

Grow old together in love.

📜 Origin

《诗经》

💡 Detailed Explanation

"Growing old together" is an idiom full of beautiful wishes. Its literal meaning is that a husband and wife live together until their hair turns white—that is, they stay by each other's side until old age. It originates from The Book of Songs and carries the lofty ideal of a happy and faithful marriage in traditional Chinese culture. Its deeper meaning refers not only to longevity in time, but also to the deep affection between husband and wife, their mutual support, and their refusal to abandon each other. It is mostly used in wedding blessings, wedding anniversaries, or daily praise of a loving couple, and carries a warm, solemn, and blessing-filled emotional tone. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the Confucian view of marriage expressed in "holding your hand and growing old with you," as well as people's longing for a stable and harmonious family life. In modern society, it remains one of the most beautiful expectations for marriage and is often used in congratulatory messages, greeting cards, or everyday conversation to express sincere wishes for a long and happy partnership.

📝 Example

1. At the wedding, guests raised their glasses one after another, wishing the newlyweds to grow old together and remain united in heart forever. 2. Grandpa and Grandma have been married for fifty years. They have supported each other through thick and thin, truly achieving a lifelong companionship until their hair turned white.