Chinese idiom · 成语
老当益壮
Meaning
Old yet growing stronger; vigor in age.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountThe Book of the Later Han's biography of Ma Yuan preserves his declaration that adversity should strengthen a person's resolve and advancing age should bring greater vigor. The passage places these words in his years of farming and raising livestock, when many followers had gathered around him. It is a statement of purpose, not a claim that aging automatically increases physical strength.
The same account says that after amassing substantial property, he decided wealth mattered only if it could help others and distributed it among relatives and old associates. Wang Bo later echoes Ma Yuan's words in the Tengwang Pavilion preface. The idiom praises continuing energy and ambition in later life.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
爷爷老当益壮，退休后又学会了剪视频，还办起了读书会。
Grandpa is still full of energy: since retiring, he has learned video editing and started a book club.
Praises vitality or ambition in later life, without implying every older person must perform physical feats.