the leaf always falls down on its root A friend of mine mentioned the Chinese saying that says that "the leaf always falls down on its root". I would like to know whether this refers to the text that in old age several people return to their country of origin, and would also like to know how to write this in Chinese.

Thanks.
"the leaf always falls down on its root"


落(fallen)

葉(leaves)

歸 (go back to)

根 (the root)

落葉歸根 means "fallen leaves always go back to the root"

It is a metaphor for "a person come back to his birth place to settle". It is considered a fulfilling event.

The thinking is a traditional one. Nowadays, the tie between a person and his birth place is nowhere as strong as in olden time. 

Hong Kong is my birth place, but I am happy to settle in Toronto until the day I die.