Definition
世风日下 is a classical Chinese idiom literally meaning 'worldly customs decline day by day.' It describes a situation where social morals, ethics, or public behavior are deteriorating compared to the past. You often use it to lament that people are becoming less honest, respectful, or kind. It carries a nostalgic or critical tone, and is more common in written or formal speech than in casual conversation.
f.e.
the world is going to the dogssociety's moral standards are declining
Examples
- 世风日下，。Hěnduō rén dōu gǎntàn shì fēng rì xià, niánqīng rén yuèláiyuè bù zūnzhòng zhǎngbèi le.Many people lament that the world is going to the dogs—young people respect their elders less and less.
- 世风日下，。Zǔmǔ cháng shuō xiànzài shì fēng rì xià, bùrú tā niánqīng shí rénxīn chúnpǔ.Grandma often says society's morals are declining now, not as pure-hearted as when she was young.
- ，世风日下。Kàn dào zhèxiē bù wénmíng de xíngwéi, tā rěnbúzhù gǎnkǎi shì fēng rì xià.Seeing these uncivilized behaviors, he couldn't help but sigh that the world is going to the dogs.
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