← IDIOMS · TIME
HSK 7-9
yuán源sourceyuǎn远distantliú流flowcháng长long
Of long standing; having a long history; deep-rooted.

Literal meaning

source (源) — distant (远) — flow (流) — long (长)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase describing something with a long and rich history.

Examples

Zhōng中guó国wén文huà化yuán源yuǎn远liú流cháng长。
Chinese culture has a long and rich history.
Zhè这ge个jiā家zú族de的lì历shǐ史yuán源yuǎn远liú流cháng长。
This family has a long and distinguished history.

Usage & nuances

Used to describe traditions, cultures, or institutions with a long and significant history.

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