树高千丈，叶落归根
shù​gāo​qiān​zhàng​yè​luò​guī​gēn

a tree may grow high but its leaves return to the roots

  1. 树 樹 shù noun
    tree
    tree; various types of woody plants
  2. 高 gāo adjective
    high
    high; tall; above average in height, level, or degree
  3. 千 qiān numeral
    many
    many; numerous; a large number
  4. 丈 zhàng verb
    zhang
    Traditional unit of length equal to 10 尺 chǐ (approx. 3.33 meters)
  5. ， yè
    non-Chinese
  6. 叶落归根 葉落歸根 yè​luò​guī​gēn
    things returning to their origin
    Literally "a falling leaf returns to its roots"; used metaphorically to mean that everything eventually returns to its source or origin