return to original purity; recover natural simplicity
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to discard external adornment and return to one's original unsophisticated state; to return to simplicity
literaryOften describes a return to natural, unpretentious living after experiencing complexity or materialism. Can refer to lifestyle, artistic style, or personal cultivation. The variant 归真返璞 is also commonly used.
Jīng经
guò过
duō多
nián年
de的
chéng城
shì市
shēng生
huó活
，
tā他
jué决
dìng定
fǎn返
pú璞
guī归
zhēn真
，
huí回
dào到
xiāng乡
cūn村
wù务
nóng农
。
After years of city life, he decided to return to simplicity and went back to the countryside to farm.
Zhè这
wèi位
yì艺
shù术
jiā家
wǎn晚
nián年
fǎn返
pú璞
guī归
zhēn真
，
zuò作
pǐn品
yuè越
lái来
yuè越
jiǎn简
jié洁
pǔ朴
sù素
。
In his later years, this artist returned to simplicity, and his works became increasingly concise and plain.
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Xiàn现
dài代
rén人
zhuī追
qiú求
fǎn返
pú璞
guī归
zhēn真
de的
shēng生
huó活
fāng方
shì式
，
jù拒
jué绝
guò过
dù度
xiāo消
fèi费
。
Modern people pursue a lifestyle of returning to simplicity and reject excessive consumption.
Zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
fǎn返
pú璞
guī归
zhēn真
bù不
shì是
xíng形
shì式
de的
jiǎn简
lòu陋
，
ér而
shì是
xīn心
líng灵
de的
chún纯
jìng净
。
True return to simplicity is not about crude forms, but about the purity of the soul.