諺語 · a single proverb

人rén老lǎo心xīn不bù老lǎo

rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo

What does 人老心不老 (rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo) mean?

人老心不老 (rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "person old, heart not old." In use it means: The body may age, but the spirit remains young; youthful heart regardless of age. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.

Literally: "person old, heart not old."

The reading

The body accumulates its years honestly and without negotiation, but the heart has a different contract with time. What stays curious, what keeps finding things delightful, what can still be moved by music or a good idea-this is the part that refuses the full agreement with age. Keep it fed. The body's autumn is not the heart's.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Traditional Chinese folk saying

Sits beside

春江水暖鴨先知

chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī

Those closest to a situation are the first to notice changes.

一年之計在於春

yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn

Spring is the season for planning the whole year.

春有百花秋有月，夏有涼風冬有雪

chūn yǒu bǎi huā qiū yǒu yuè xià yǒu liáng fēng dōng yǒu xuě

Each season has its own beauty.

Keep reading

Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Rabbit.

Questions

Is 人老心不老 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 人老心不老 (rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.

How do you pronounce 人老心不老?

In Mandarin it is rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 人老心不老 aloud in Mandarin.