Does anyone know what this sentence means?

[shane]

On the blackboard at the back of the classroom today, I saw the following:

"The great man often thinks of the white days in his life"

Underneath the word 'white' - in brackets - was the Chinese word for 'happy' (ÐÒ¸£). No one seemed to know who wrote it; and therefore, where the sentence was sourced from.

Anyone ever heard of the word 'white' to mean 'happy'?? :?:

 

[RonBee]

On the blackboard at the back of the classroom today, I saw the following:

"The great man often thinks of the white days in his life"

Underneath the word 'white' - in brackets - was the Chinese word for 'happy' (ÐÒ¸£). No one seemed to know who wrote it; and therefore, where the sentence was sourced from.

Anyone ever heard of the word 'white' to mean 'happy'?? :?:

I haven't heard "white" used that way, but the reverse is certainly true. A "black" day is one that is a bad one indeed.

8)

 

[Tdol]

I've heard of salad days, but not white ones. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

I've heard of salad days, but not white ones. ;-)

Maybe it is a Chinese thing. :wink:

8)

 

[shane]

I'd love to meet the person who wrote it, to find out what they meant :wink:

 

[Tdol]

I did a google search, but was all winter stuff, which I don't think fits. ;-)

 

[Red5]

On the blackboard at the back of the classroom today, I saw the following:

"The great man often thinks of the white days in his life"

Underneath the word 'white' - in brackets - was the Chinese word for 'happy' (ÐÒ¸£). No one seemed to know who wrote it; and therefore, where the sentence was sourced from.

Anyone ever heard of the word 'white' to mean 'happy'?? :?:

Hi Shane,

I found this in Google, which appears to be the origin of the phrase:

FAVORABLE, FORTUNATE <one of the white days of his life -- Sir Walter Scott> (from http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=white

...and also in para. 13 of http://www.bartleby.com/304/39.html

Dictionary.com provides the following:

5. Characterized by freedom from that which disturbs, and the like; fortunate; happy; favorable.

On the whole, however, the dominie reckoned this as one of the white days of his life. --Sir W. Scott.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=white elephant

Hope that helps! ;-)

 

[shane]

I'd say you've helped everyone here, not just me!!

Thanks Red5!!

 

[Red5]

No problem! ;-)

 

[Tdol]

Cute. ;-)