摘要：在浩瀚的中华文化长河中，流传着许多充满智慧与哲理的谚语，它们如同璀璨的星辰，照亮了人们的心灵，指引着人们的行为。“七十不留宿，八十不留饭”便是其中之一，这句看似简单的谚语，实则蕴含着深邃的文化内涵和人文关怀。
在浩瀚的中华文化长河中，流传着许多充满智慧与哲理的谚语，它们如同璀璨的星辰，照亮了人们的心灵，指引着人们的行为。“七十不留宿，八十不留饭”便是其中之一，这句看似简单的谚语，实则蕴含着深邃的文化内涵和人文关怀。
首先，我们来解读这句谚语的字面意思。“七十不留宿”，意指当老人年龄达到七十岁时，主人不宜再挽留其在家中过夜；“八十不留饭”，则是指当老人年届八旬，主人不应再强留其在家中用餐。从字面上看，这似乎是一种对老年人的“不近人情”，但实则不然，这背后蕴含着对老年人的深深关爱与尊重。
在中国传统文化中，尊老爱幼是永恒的主题。然而，尊老并非盲目地溺爱，而是要在尊重老年人意愿的基础上，给予他们适当的照顾与关怀。随着年龄的增长，老年人的身体机能逐渐衰退，对于环境的适应能力和突发状况的应对能力也相应减弱。因此，“七十不留宿，八十不留饭”实际上是一种对老年人身体状况的理性认识，以及对可能发生的意外情况的预防。
这句谚语背后，还蕴含着一种对生命的敬畏与珍视。在中国古代，人们普遍认为，人的寿命是有限的，而七十、八十岁已属高龄，是人生的重要节点。在这个阶段，老年人更需要家人的陪伴与照顾，享受天伦之乐。因此，这句谚语也提醒人们，要珍惜与老年人相处的时光，不要等到“子欲养而亲不待”时才追悔莫及。
那么，这句谚语在现代社会是否还适用呢？答案是肯定的。虽然现代社会医疗水平提高，人们的寿命普遍延长，但老年人的身体状况依然需要格外关注。而且，随着社会的快速发展，人们的生活节奏也越来越快，很多人忙于工作，忽略了与家人的相处。这时，“七十不留宿，八十不留饭”的谚语便显得尤为重要，它提醒我们要在忙碌的生活中抽出时间，陪伴和照顾家中的老人。
举一个例子来说明。张大爷今年已经七十五岁了，身体虽然还算硬朗，但毕竟年事已高。有一次，他应邀去一位朋友家做客，朋友热情挽留他过夜。但张大爷却婉言谢绝了，他说：“我年纪大了，晚上容易起夜，怕打扰了你们的休息。”朋友听后，深感张大爷的体贴与明智。这个例子告诉我们，老年人有自己的生活和节奏，他们更需要的是家人的理解和尊重，而不是盲目的挽留和照顾。
当然，我们也不能机械地理解这句谚语，认为只要老人到了七十岁就不能留宿，到了八十岁就不能留饭。在实际生活中，我们应该根据老年人的身体状况和实际情况来灵活处理。如果老年人身体状况良好，精神矍铄，那么在做足各种心理和实际准备周全的情况下适当地留宿或留饭也是可以的。但无论如何，我们都要时刻牢记对老年人的关爱与尊重，让他们度过一个幸福、安康的晚年。
总之，“七十不留宿，八十不留饭”这句谚语，不仅是对老年人身体状况的理性认识，更是对生命的敬畏与珍视。它提醒我们要珍惜与老年人相处的时光，给予他们适当的照顾与关怀。同时，这句谚语也传递了一种积极向上、尊老爱幼的价值观，让我们在忙碌的生活中不忘初心，继续传承和发扬中华民族的优良传统。
作者简介：梁世杰 中医高年资主治医师，本科学历，从事中医临床工作24年，积累了较丰富的临床经验。师从首都医科大学附属北京中医院肝病科主任医师、著名老中医陈勇，侍诊多载，深得器重，尽得真传！擅用“商汤经方分类疗法”、专病专方结合“焦树德学术思想”“关幼波十纲辨证”学术思想治疗疑难杂症为特色。现任北京树德堂中医研究院研究员，北京中医药薪火传承新3+3工程—焦树德门人（陈勇）传承工作站研究员，国际易联易学与养生专委会常务理事，中国中医药研究促进会焦树德学术传承专业委员会委员，中国药文化研究会中医药慢病防治分会首批癌症领域入库专家。荣获2020年中国中医药研究促进会仲景医学分会举办的第八届医圣仲景南阳论坛“经方名医”荣誉称号。2023年首届京津冀“扁鹊杯”燕赵医学研究主题征文优秀奖获得者。事迹入选《当代科学家》杂志、《中华英才》杂志。
"Not to sleep at 70 and not to eat at 80": the tenderness and awe behind ancient wisdom
In the long river of the vast Chinese culture, there are many proverbs full of wisdom and philosophy, which are like bright stars, lighting up people's hearts and guiding people's behavior. One of these is the simple proverb, "Not to sleep at 70 and not to eat at 80," which contains deep cultural implications and human concerns.
First, let us read the literal meaning of this proverb. "Not to stay at seventy" means that when the elderly reaches the age of seventy, it is not advisable for the owner to keep them overnight in the home; "Not to leave a meal at 80," means that when an old person reaches the age of 80, the owner should no longer force him to eat in the home. Literally, this may seem like an "inhumane" treatment of the elderly, but it is not, and there is a deep love and respect for the elder.
In Chinese traditional culture, respecting the old and caring for the young is the eternal subject. However, respecting the elderly is not blindly doting, but rather giving them proper care and care on the basis of respecting their will. With age, older people's physical functions gradually decline, and their ability to adapt to the environment and respond to sudden situations also weakens. Thus, "not sleeping at 70 and not eating at 80" is actually a rational understanding of the physical condition of the elderly and the prevention of possible unexpected situations.
Behind this proverb is a sense of awe and appreciation for life. In ancient China, it was generally believed that people's lifespan was limited, and seventy and eighty years were already very old and important points of life. At this stage, the elderly need the companionship and care of the family and enjoy the joy of family life. Therefore, this proverb also reminds people to cherish the time they spend with the elderly and not to wait until "a child wants to feed but cannot love" before regretting it.
Does this proverb still hold true in modern society? The answer is yes. Although medical standards have improved in modern society and people's life expectancy has generally increased, the physical condition of the elderly still needs special attention. Moreover, with the rapid development of society, the pace of people's lives is faster and faster, and many people are busy with work and neglect to spend time with their families. At this point, the proverb "never sleep at 70 and never eat at 80" becomes especially important as it reminds us to take time out of our busy lives to spend time with and care for the elderly at home.
Give an example to illustrate this. Mr. Zhang is seventy-five years old this year. Although his body is quite strong, he is very old, after all. Once, he was invited to a friend's house, who warmly retained him for the night. But Mr. Zhang politely refused. "I am old," he said. "I get up easily at night. I'm afraid to disturb your rest." After hearing this, my friend was deeply impressed by Grandpa Zhang's thoughtfulness and wisdom. This example shows us that older people have their own lives and rhythms, and what they need more is the understanding and respect of their families than blind retention and care.
Of course, we cannot mechanically understand the proverb that as long as the old man reaches seventy years old, he cannot keep a bed and a meal at eighty years old. In real life, we should be flexible in dealing with the elderly based on their physical condition and actual situation. If the elderly are physically and mentally healthy, it is okay to sleep or eat properly with all the psychological and practical preparations in place. But no matter what, we must always remember to care for and respect the elderly so that they can live a happy and healthy old age.
In short, the proverb, "No sleep at 70 and no food at 80," is not only a rational understanding of the physical condition of the elderly, but also a reverence and value for life. It reminds us to cherish the time we spend with the elderly and to give them proper care and care. At the same time, this proverb also transmits a positive and positive values of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, so that we can start our busy lives and continue to carry forward and promote the fine traditions of the Chinese nation.
Author Bio: Liang Shijie is a senior medical practitioner in traditional Chinese medicine with an undergraduate degree. He has been engaged in traditional medicine clinical work for 24 years and has accumulated a wealth of clinical experience. Following Chen Yong, chief physician of liver disease at Beijing Traditional Medicine Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, and renowned old Chinese medicine, he has been treated for many years and received great attention. He specializes in the treatment of difficult diseases using "conversational traditional therapy" and special treatments combined with the academic ideas of Jiao Shude and Guan Yubo's ten-level diagnosis.He is currently a researcher at the Shude Tang TCM Research Institute in Beijing, a fellow at the new 3 + 3 project of traditional Chinese medicine flame inheritance in Beijing - a scholar at the inheritance workstation of Jiao Shude's protégés (Chen Yong),He is a standing committee member of the International Expert Committee on E-learning and Health Care, a member of the Jiao Shude Academic Heritage Special Committee of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine Research, and the first cancer specialist to be included in the chapter of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Culture Research Association. Won the 2020 China Association for the Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhongjing Medical Branch held the eighth session of the Medical Saint Zhongjing Nanyang Forum "Classic Prescription Famous Doctor" honorary title. The winner of the first Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei "Pingui Cup" Yanzhao Medical Research Essay Award in 2023. His work was featured in the journal Current Scientist and the journal Chinese Talent.
来源：首都专家梁世杰一点号
