Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to leave a stench for ten thousand years' — a vivid way to say someone's name will be remembered forever for their evil deeds. It's the opposite of 流芳百世 (to leave a good name for a hundred generations). You use it for historical villains or notorious figures whose infamy outlives them. The verb 遗 here means 'to leave behind', and 臭 is metaphorical for a bad reputation.
v
to go down in history as a byword for infamyto be remembered forever for one's evil deeds
Examples
- 桧，遗臭万年。Qín Huì xiànhài Yuè Fēi, wèi.Qin Hui framed Yue Fei and will be remembered forever for his infamy.
- 遗臭万年。Lìshǐ shàng nàxiē cánbào de tǒngzhì zhě dàduō wèi.Most of the cruel rulers in history have left a stench for ten thousand years.
- ，遗臭万年。Tā zuò le nàme duō huài shì, zhùdìng wèi.He did so many bad things that he is destined to be remembered forever for his infamy.
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