老态龙钟 — “To be old and infirm”

During the Song Dynasty, the renowned poet Lu You, in his old age, was plagued by illness and unable to spend his twilight years in peace and tranquility. One night, as heavy rain poured down, he listened to the rustling sound of the evening rain and felt deeply about his own life and circumstances.

He then composed the poem 'Listening to the Rain,' which reads: 'Old and infirm, my sickness lingers on; worldly affairs further disrupt my peaceful mood. A flute's faint melody from behind the screen offers some solace; let me just listen to the rustling sound of the evening rain.' This poem vividly depicted his physical state and emotional reflections in his old age.