Definition
寿终正寝 is a four-character idiom meaning literally 'to end one's life in the main hall at a ripe old age' — the ideal death in traditional Chinese culture, surrounded by family. Today you can use it for anyone who dies of old age (rather than illness or accident), and by extension for any institution, project, or trend that ends naturally without violence.
idiom
to die a natural death (of old age)
f.e.
(figurative) to come to a natural end
Examples
- ，寿终正寝。Yéye jīnnián jiǔshíbā suì, shàng gè yuè shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn le.Grandpa was 98 this year and passed away naturally last month.
- ，寿终正寝。Nà jiā lǎozìhào jīngyíng le bāshí duō nián, zuìzhōng háishì shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn le.That old-brand business had been running for over eighty years, but it eventually came to a natural end.
- 寿终正寝，。Zhège chuántǒng jiérì zài xiàndàihuà làngcháo zhōng shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn, hěn shǎo rén guò le.This traditional festival died a natural death in the tide of modernization; few people celebrate it now.
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