Definition
告老还乡 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'retire from government service and return to one's homeland'. It was historically used when an elderly official resigned from court duties to spend their remaining years in their native village. The literal translation ('announce old age, return to village') already gives a good hint, but the set phrase carries cultural connotations of honor, duty fulfilled, and a peaceful retirement away from political life.
f.e.
retire to one's native place after serving as an official
Examples
- ，告老还乡。Tā dāng le sānshí nián guān, liùshí suì jiù gào lǎo hái le.After thirty years as an official, he retired to his hometown at sixty.
- 告老还乡，。Gǔdài hěnduō wénrén zuìhòu xuǎnzé gào lǎo hái, huíguī tiányuán.In ancient times many literati chose to retire to their native place and return to rural life.
- 告老还乡，。Zhāng dàrén yǐjīng gào lǎo hái, bú zài guòwèn cháozhèng le.Minister Zhang has already retired to his hometown and no longer meddles in court affairs.
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