盛极必衰 Rise and fall
Explanation
任何事物发展到极盛时期，必然走向衰败。这是事物发展的客观规律。
Anything that develops to its peak will inevitably decline. This is an objective law of the development of things.
Origin Story
话说魏晋时期，有个富商名叫王百万，他凭借着精明的头脑和辛勤的劳作，生意越做越大，家财万贯，成为了当地首屈一指的巨富。他拥有广阔的田地，豪华的宅院，珍奇的古玩，他的生活奢华至极。王百万因此变得骄奢淫逸，挥金如土，不理朝政，只顾着享乐。然而，盛极必衰，好景不长，由于王百万的经营不善，加上天灾人祸，他的生意开始走下坡路，家产迅速缩水，最后倾家荡产，沦为乞丐，令人唏嘘不已。这个故事告诉我们，任何事物都有其兴衰周期，即使再辉煌的事业，也避免不了最终的衰落。
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a wealthy merchant named Wang Million. With his sharp mind and hard work, his business grew bigger and bigger. He accumulated immense wealth and became the most prominent wealthy person in the area. He owned vast land, a luxurious mansion, and rare antiques, his life was extremely luxurious. However, Wang Million became arrogant, extravagant, and careless. He neglected state affairs, focusing only on enjoyment. But the peak ended, the good times didn't last long. Due to his poor management, coupled with natural and man-made disasters, his business began to decline, his property quickly shrank, and in the end he lost everything and became a beggar, which is quite sad. This story teaches us that everything has its rise and fall cycle. Even the most brilliant career cannot avoid its eventual decline.
Usage
用于形容事物发展到极盛阶段后必然走向衰败的规律。
Used to describe the law that everything will inevitably decline after reaching its peak.
Examples
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秦始皇统一六国后，建立了强大的秦朝，然而盛极必衰，秦朝二世而亡。
qín shǐ huáng tǒng yī liù guó hòu, jiàn lì le qiáng dà de qín cháo, rán'ér shèng jí bì shuāi, qín cháo èr shì ér wáng
After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he established the powerful Qin Dynasty, but with the height came decay, and the Qin Dynasty perished after two generations.
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任何事物发展到极致，都会走向衰败，这就是盛极必衰的道理。
rènhé shìwù fāzhǎn dào jízhì, dōu huì zǒuxiàng shuāibài, zhè jiùshì shèng jí bì shuāi de dàolǐ
Anything that develops to its peak will eventually decline, that is the meaning of "盛极必衰" .