人事代谢 — “The old gives way to the new in human affairs”

人事代谢 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the old gives way to the new in human affairs”. The constant renewal and succession of things in the world; the ebb and flow of worldly matters. Literally, “Succession and renewal of human affairs”.

Frequency

人事代谢 Pronunciation and Pinyin

人事代谢 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
人	rén	2	human being, person
事	shì	8	matter, event, or undertaking
代	dài	5	replace; generation; era
谢	xiè	12	thank, apologize, decline

Example Sentence with 人事代谢

时光流转，人事代谢，唯有真挚的情谊能经久不衰

As time flows and human affairs renew, only genuine friendship can endure.

Origin and Story of 人事代谢

The Tang Dynasty poet Meng Haoran lived as a recluse on Luming Mountain in Xiangyang.

At the age of 40, he went to Chang'an to take the imperial examination for a jinshi degree, but was unsuccessful, so he returned to his secluded life.

He yearned for an official position but could not achieve his wish, feeling that his talents were unappreciated.

This sentiment is reflected in his poem 'Climbing Xian Mountain with My Children,' where he wrote: 'Human affairs undergo succession and change; comings and goings form the past and present. The rivers and mountains retain their glorious sites; we, too, ascend them again. When the water recedes, the Yuliang is shallow; when the weather turns cold, Mengze is deep.'