尘埃落定
chén āi luò dìng
the dust settles; the outcome is finally decided
Character by character
尘chén
dust
dust
埃āi
dust
dust
落luò
falls
falls
定dìng
settles
settles
Example
经过三轮投票，主席的人选终于尘埃落定。
After three rounds of voting, the choice of chairman was finally settled.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said when a long contest, deal or period of uncertainty ends: 比赛、谈判、选举尘埃落定. Also the title of 阿来’s 1998 novel about a Tibetan chieftain’s family, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2000.
Learn this in Lesson 198 · HSK 7–9: 村委会选举 (Village elections)
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