生生不息，繁荣昌盛
shēng shēng bù xī, fán róng chāng shèng
The English phrase "live long and prosper" is translated into Mandarin as 生生不息，繁荣昌盛 (shēng shēng bù xī, fán róng chāng shèng).
This phrase is used as a wish for someone to have a long life and a successful future.
How do you pronounce it?
shēng shēng bù xī, fán róng chāng shèng
Did you know?
- The phrase 生生不息 describes a cycle of endless rebirth and growth that reflects the ancient Chinese philosophical view of nature and the universe.
- Because the phrase follows the rhythm of 'chengyu', traditional four-character idioms, it sounds more like a formal toast or a state slogan than a personal blessing. Using it in a casual conversation might make you sound like you are delivering a political speech.
- The character 生 appears twice in 生生不息, using a repetition pattern that transforms the meaning from 'to live' to a continuous 'generation after generation'.
Example conversation
A formal banquet celebrating a long-standing company's anniversary.
- 欣怡 Xinyi祝愿公司生生不息，繁荣昌盛！Zhùyuàn gōngsī shēngshēng bùxī, fánróng changshèng!May the company live long and prosper!
- 浩然 Haoran谢谢欣怡，我也祝愿大家。Xièxiè Xīnyí, wǒ yě zhùyuàn dàjiā.Thank you, Xinyi, I wish everyone the same.
- 欣怡 Xinyi浩然，我们要一起努力。Hàorán, wǒmen yào yīqǐ nǔlì.Haoran, we must work hard together.
- 浩然 Haoran是的，一定会成功的。Shì de, yīdìng huì chénggōng de.Yes, we will definitely succeed.
