“叶落归根”，字面意思是“树叶凋落，回到树根周围（Leaves wither¹ and fall on the ground by the tree roots. ）”。比喻事物总有一定的归宿，现多指久居异乡的人终究会返回故里（ A person residing elsewhere finally returns to his native land.）。它包含着中国人自古普遍具有的一种思乡情感（nostalgia²）。可以翻译为“end one's days on one's native soil；what comes from the soil will return to the soil”。

 

例句：

 

这位老华侨终于叶落归根，回到了阔别数十年的故乡。

Like fallen leaves returning to their roots, the old man eventually returned to his hometown and settled down there after several decades overseas.

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