Definition
夕阳西下 is a four-character set phrase (成语) that literally means 'the setting sun sinks in the west'. It's a poetic, literary expression used to describe dusk or the end of the day, often evoking a sense of melancholy, nostalgia, or the passage of time. You'll encounter it in classical poetry, modern literature, and lyrical descriptions — it's not used in everyday conversation like '太阳下山了'.
f.e.
the setting sun sinks in the westdusk (poetic/literary)
Examples
- 夕阳西下，。xī yáng xī xià, tiānbiān yí piàn hóngxiá.The setting sun sinks in the west, and the horizon is covered in red clouds.
- 夕阳西下，。Zhàn zài shāndǐng kàn xī yáng xī xià, xīnzhōng gǎnkǎi wànqiān.Standing on the mountaintop watching the sunset, I felt a myriad of emotions.
- 夕阳西下，。xī yáng xī xià, duàncháng rén zài tiānyá.The sun sets in the west, and a heartbroken man wanders at the edge of the world.
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