落叶归根 in English luo4 ye4 gui1 gen1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) a falling leaf returns to the roots (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically all things go back to their source eventually
  • in old age, an expatriate returns home

Simplified Characters

落 叶 归 根

Traditional Characters

落 葉 歸 根

Pinyin

luo4 ye4 gui1 gen1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

落luo4to leave out 叶ye4to be in harmony 归gui1surname Gui 根gen1root