落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
to return to your roots in old age
Character by character
落luò
fallen
fallen
叶yè
leaves
leaves
归guī
return
return
根gēn
root
root
Example
他在国外住了四十年，老了想落叶归根。
He's lived abroad for forty years; in old age he wants to go home.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The strong pull for overseas Chinese to retire or be buried in their hometown.
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