六十而耳顺

六十而耳順

liùshí ér ěrshùn

quotation

Meanings

1 at sixty, the ear is attuned
2 at age sixty one hears all opinions without resistance - Confucius's description of the age 60 (hence 耳顺之年)

Characters

compliant; in harmony

Examples

HSK 7-9

他过了六十岁，真的到了六十而耳顺的境界。

Tā guò le liùshí suì, zhēnde dào le liùshí ér ěrshùn de jìngjiè.

Past sixty, he truly reached the state of 'ears in harmony with what he hears.'

HSK 7-9

孔子说六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲。

Kǒngzǐ shuō liùshí ér ěrshùn, qīshí ér cóng xīn suǒ yù.

Confucius said 'at sixty my ear was attuned; at seventy I could follow my heart's desires.'

Tips

history

From 《论语·为政》 - Confucius's autobiographical milestones: 吾十有五而志于学, 三十而立, 四十而不惑, 五十而知天命, 六十而耳顺, 七十而从心所欲不逾矩. Each age gave Chinese a stock name: 而立之年 (30), 不惑之年 (40), 知命之年 (50), 耳顺之年 (60).

usage

耳顺 literally 'the ear is compliant' - meaning one no longer reacts defensively to contrary opinions. 耳顺之年 is the standard poetic term for age 60 in modern obituaries and birthday speeches.

Stroke Order

六 liù

十 shí

而 ér

耳 ěr

顺 shùn