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錦衣還鄕

금의환향 錦衣還鄕

Returning home in silken robes; it refers to returning to one's hometown in glory after achieving great success elsewhere.

Chinese Idiom 4-character idiom Learn with Music
Quick Answer

금의환향 (錦衣還鄕) means "Returning home in silken robes; it refers to returning to one's hometown in glory after achieving great success elsewhere.". This idiom originates from the story of Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention. After conquering the

1 Meaning

금의환향 (錦衣還鄕) means “Returning home in silken robes; it refers to returning to one's hometown in glory after achieving great success elsewhere.”.

Geum-ui-hwan-hyang (錦衣還鄕) literally means 'returning home wearing silk clothes.' It describes a situation where someone achieves significant success away from home and returns in glory to share their joy with their community.

2 Examples

1

A young student struggles for years in a big city to pass the highly competitive civil service examination.

They return to their hometown with the news of passing at the top of their class and host a celebratory banquet with their parents.

2

An athlete who spent years in obscurity in an overseas minor league faces constant hardship.

They win a world championship trophy and return home to a hero's welcome from thousands of cheering fans at the airport.

3

An entrepreneur faces numerous failures and mounting debt after starting their own business.

After successfully developing a breakthrough technology and selling their company, they visit their alma mater to donate a major scholarship fund.

4

A team manager who was demoted after a project failure manages to achieve a massive performance milestone.

They hit a home run with a new innovative product and make a triumphant return as the head of a core department at the headquarters.

Which situation fits this idiom?

Pick the everyday scene where “금의환향” fits best.

3 Origin

This idiom originates from the story of Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention. After conquering the Qin capital of Xianyang and achieving immense wealth and power, Xiang Yu insisted on returning to his hometown in Jiangdong. When advised to stay for strategic reasons, he famously remarked, 'To become rich and famous and not return to one's hometown is like wearing silken robes and walking in the dark of night (錦衣夜行)—who would ever know?' This historical concept is modernized today to represent the sense of achievement one feels when returning to their private domain or community with newfound confidence and success after overcoming long hardships.

4 Key Lessons

1

The fruits of hard work deserve to be celebrated and expressed with confidence.

2

True success is often completed by sharing the joy with those who care for you or within your own personal space.

3

The rewards earned after enduring difficult trials serve as the driving force for new energy.

5 English Expression

English Vocabulary

Sugar rush

단 것을 많이 먹어 일시적으로 기운이 솟구치는 상태

"After eating two cupcakes, the children had a massive sugar rush."

Sync

동기화하다, 일치하다

"My phone and laptop automatically sync my photos."

Lose control

통제력을 잃다, 자제력을 잃고 몰입하다

"When the music started, everyone began to lose control on the dance floor."

Don't give a damn

전혀 신경 쓰지 않다, 관심 없다

"I don't give a damn about what they think of my clothes."

6 Learn with Music

금의환향 track image

금의환향 Track

Tick-Tock Pop! (錦衣還鄕)

“하루의 전장을 끝내고 시계를 꺼버린 채, 퇴근 후의 밤으로 가장 화려하게 돌아오는 이 순간이 바로 나만의 금의환향이다.”

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금의환향

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