驾鹤西游 Ride a crane west
Explanation
比喻人去世的委婉说法，源于道教传说中的仙人骑鹤升天。
A euphemism for death, derived from the Daoist legend of immortals riding cranes to heaven.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个名叫张三的书生，他自幼酷爱道家文化，一心向往着羽化登仙。他常常在山间林里修行，潜心修炼，希望能早日得道成仙。一日，他来到终南山，在一处幽静的山谷中，遇到一位白发苍苍的老道士。老道士见张三骨骼清奇，资质聪颖，便收他为徒，传授他道家修炼之法。张三跟随老道士潜心修炼数十年，终于练就一身精湛的道法。一日，张三在山顶修炼时，突然感到一股强大的力量涌上心头，他感觉自己要飞升成仙了。只见他身体轻盈地飘了起来，缓缓地飞向空中，身下白云缭绕，仙气飘飘。这时，一只巨大的仙鹤从天而降，落在张三身旁。张三轻轻地跃上仙鹤背上，仙鹤展开双翅，载着他飞向远方，消失在云雾之中。从此，张三驾鹤西游，得道成仙，成为了传说中的神仙。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Zhang San who loved Taoist culture since childhood and longed for immortality. He often practiced in the mountains and forests, devoting himself to cultivation, hoping to achieve immortality as soon as possible. One day, he came to Zhongnan Mountain and encountered a white-haired Taoist priest in a quiet valley. Seeing Zhang San's extraordinary talent, the Taoist priest accepted him as a disciple and taught him Taoist cultivation methods. Zhang San followed the Taoist priest and devoted himself to cultivation for decades, eventually mastering superb Taoist skills. One day, while practicing on the mountaintop, Zhang San suddenly felt a powerful force surging through his heart. He felt that he was about to ascend to immortality. He saw himself lightly floating into the air, slowly flying towards the sky, surrounded by clouds and celestial mist. At this time, a huge immortal crane descended from the sky and landed beside Zhang San. Zhang San gently leaped onto the crane's back, and the crane spread its wings, carrying him far away, disappearing into the clouds. From then on, Zhang San rode a crane to the west, achieving immortality, and becoming a legendary immortal.
Usage
用于委婉地表达死亡。
Used to euphemistically express death.
Examples
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李老先生驾鹤西游了，享年八十八岁。
Li laoxiansheng jiahexiyou le,xiangnian bashiba sui.
Mr. Li passed away at the age of eighty-eight.
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听说老张驾鹤西游了，令人惋惜。
Ting shuo lao Zhang jiahexiyou le, ling ren wanxi
It is said that Mr. Zhang passed away, which is regrettable.