长生久视 cháng shēng jiǔ shì Longevity

Explanation

指长寿，不老，耳目不衰。

Refers to longevity, immortality, and sharp senses into old age.

Origin Story

话说汉武帝时期，他渴望长生不老，四处寻找可以延年益寿的仙丹妙药。他听闻一位名叫李少翁的方士掌握着长生久视的秘诀，便派人前去邀请他入宫。李少翁来到宫中，向汉武帝献上了所谓的“不死之药”，并声称只要服用此药，便可长生不老。汉武帝对李少翁深信不疑，欣然服下此药，却并未如愿以偿。此事令汉武帝十分失望，但他仍然念念不忘长生久视的梦想。他继续四处寻访，希望能够找到真正的仙丹妙药，最终却只落得个空欢喜一场。后世人以此故事警戒世人，不要迷信虚无缥缈的长生不老，要脚踏实地地生活，活在当下。

huà shuō hàn wǔ dì shíqī, tā kěwàng chángshēng bù lǎo, sìchù xún zhǎo kěyǐ yánnián yìshòu de xiāndān miàoyào. tā tīngwén yī wèi míng jiào lǐ shàowēng de fāngshì zhǎngwò zhe chángshēng jiǔshì de mìjué, biàn pài rén qián qù yāoqǐng tā rù gōng. lǐ shàowēng lái dào gōng zhōng, xiàng hàn wǔ dì xiàn shàng le suǒwèi de “bùsǐ zhī yào”, bìng shēngchēng zhǐyào fúyòng cǐ yào, biàn kě chángshēng bù lǎo. hàn wǔ dì duì lǐ shàowēng shēnxìn bù yí, xīnrán fú xià cǐ yào, què bìng wèi rú yuàn yǐ cháng. cǐ shì lìng hàn wǔ dì shífēn shīwàng, dàn tā réngrán niànniàn bùwàng chángshēng jiǔshì de mèngxiǎng. tā jìxù sìchù xúnfǎng, xīwàng nénggòu zhǎodào zhēnzhèng de xiāndān miàoyào, zuìzhōng què zhǐ luò de gè kōng huānxǐ yī chǎng. hòushì rén yǐ cǐ gùshì jǐngjì shì rén, bù yào mímxìn xūwú piàomiǎo de chángshēng bù lǎo, yào jiǎotà shí dì de shēnghuó, huó zài dāngxià.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, he yearned for immortality and searched everywhere for elixirs of life. He heard of an alchemist named Li Shaoweng who possessed the secret to longevity and invited him to the palace. Li Shaoweng presented Emperor Wu with a so-called "elixir of immortality", claiming it would grant eternal life. Emperor Wu, fully believing Li Shaoweng, consumed the elixir but to no avail. This disappointment was great, but his desire for immortality remained. He continued his search, only to find illusions. Later, this story served as a cautionary tale against believing in the myths of immortality, advising people to live grounded in reality and appreciate the present moment.

Usage

多用于比喻长寿或追求长寿。

duō yòng yú bǐyù chángshòu huò zhuīqiú chángshòu

Often used to describe longevity or the pursuit of longevity.

Examples

  • 道家追求长生久视，以求得精神上的解脱。

    dàojiā zhuīqiú chángshēng jiǔshì, yǐ qiú dé jīngshen shang de jiětuō.

    Taoists pursue longevity to achieve spiritual liberation.

  • 秦始皇一心追求长生久视，派人四处寻找仙丹妙药。

    qín shǐ huáng yīxīn zhuīqiú chángshēng jiǔshì, pài rén sìchù xún zhǎo xiāndān miàoyào

    Qin Shi Huang sought the elixir of life to live forever.

Related Idioms

  • 长生不老

  • 延年益寿

Opposite Idioms

  • 早逝

  • 夭亡