日薄西山 Rì bó xī shān The sun sets (figuratively)

Explanation

太阳快要落山了。比喻人衰老将死或事物衰败腐朽，即将灭亡。

The sun is about to set. A metaphor for an aging and dying person or a decaying and decaying thing, on the verge of extinction.

Origin Story

从前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位年迈的木匠老李。他一生都以精湛的木匠技艺闻名于方圆百里，他制作的每一个木器都像一件艺术品，饱含了他的心血和汗水。然而，时光飞逝，老李已经年过八十，他的身体也逐渐衰弱。他的双手颤抖着，眼睛也看不清了，以前轻松完成的工作现在都变得无比艰难。村里的年轻人，都学着老李的手艺，他的技艺被传承下去，村里已经没有多少人需要他制作东西了。老李知道，他日薄西山，大限将至，但他并不悲观。他知道自己的技艺已经传了下去，村里人也能自给自足，他的心，终于放下了。他坐在院子里的藤椅上，静静地回忆着自己的一生，温暖的阳光洒在他的脸上，晚风轻轻地吹拂着他的头发。夕阳西下，染红了半边天，也印证着他生命最后的时刻。他知道，这是他人生旅程的终点站，但他毫无遗憾。

cóng qián,zài yīgè piānpì de xiǎoshāncūn lǐ,zhù zhe yī wèi niánmài de mùjiàng lǎo lǐ.tā yīshēng dōu yǐ jīngzhàn de mùjiàng jìyì wénmíng yú fāngyuán bǎilǐ,tā zhìzuò de měi yīgè mùqì dōu xiàng yī jiàn yìshùpǐn,bǎohán le tā de xinxuè hé hàn shuǐ.rán'ér,shíguāng fēishì,lǎo lǐ yǐjīng nián guò bāshí,tā de shēntǐ yě zhújiàn shuāiruò.tā de shuāngshǒu chàndǒu zhe,yǎnjīng yě kàn bu qīng le,yǐqián qīngsōng wánchéng de gōngzuò xiànzài dōu biàndé wúbǐ jiānnán.cūn lǐ de niánqīng rén,dōu xuézhe lǎo lǐ de shǒuyì,tā de jìyì bèi chuánchéng xiàqù,cūn lǐ yǐjīng méiyǒu duōshao rén xūyào tā zhìzuò dōngxī le.lǎo lǐ zhīdào,tā rì bó xī shān,dà xiàn jiāng zhì,dàn tā bìng bù bēiguān.tā zhīdào zìjǐ de jìyì yǐjīng chuán le xiàqù,cūn lǐ rén yě néng zì jǐ zì zú,tā de xīn,zhōngyú fàng xià le.tā zuò zài yuànzi lǐ de téngyǐ shang,jìngjìng de huíyì zhe zìjǐ de yīshēng,wēnnuǎn de yángguāng sǎ zài tā de liǎn shang,wǎnfēng qīngqīng de chuīfú zhe tā de tóufa.xīyáng xī xià,rǎn hóng le bàn biān tiān,yě yìnzèng zhe tā shēngmìng zuìhòu de shíkè.tā zhīdào,zhè shì tā rénshēng lǚchéng de zhōngdiǎn zhàn,dàn tā háo wú yíhàn.

Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, lived an elderly carpenter named Old Li. He was known throughout the region for his exquisite carpentry skills. Every piece of woodwork he crafted was like a work of art, imbued with his effort and sweat. However, time flew by, and Old Li was over eighty, his body gradually weakening. His hands trembled, and his eyesight failed; tasks once easily accomplished were now exceptionally difficult. The young people in the village learned Old Li's craft, his skills passed down, and there were few in the village who needed his woodworking services anymore. Old Li knew his days were numbered, but he was not pessimistic. Knowing his skill had been passed on and the villagers could now provide for themselves eased his worries. Sitting in his courtyard, he calmly reflected on his life, the warm sunlight on his face and the gentle evening breeze in his hair. The setting sun painted the sky crimson, mirroring the final moments of his life. He knew this was the end of his journey, but he had no regrets.

Usage

用于形容人或事物衰败、衰老、即将灭亡。

yòng yú xíngróng rén huò shìwù shuāibài,shuāilǎo,jí jiāng mièwáng

Used to describe the decay, aging, or imminent demise of a person or thing.

Examples

• 大厦将倾，已是日薄西山，无力回天了。

  dà shà jiāng qīng,yǐ shì rì bó xī shān,wú lì huí tiān le

  The building is about to collapse, and it's already in decline, it's beyond redemption.

• 公司业绩下滑，日薄西山，面临倒闭的风险。

  gōngsī yèjì xià huá,rì bó xī shān,miàn lín dǎobì de fēngxiǎn

  The company's performance is declining; the company is on the brink of collapse and faces the risk of bankruptcy.

Related Idioms

• 日落西山

• 气息奄奄

Opposite Idioms

• 朝气蓬勃

• 蒸蒸日上