三朝元老

sāncháoyuánlǎo ㄙㄢ ㄔㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄌㄠˇ

    • senior figure who has stayed in office under several successive leaders
    • veteran survivor

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · Widely known

Literally
elder statesman of three reigns
Meaning
Originally a senior minister who served three emperors or dynasties; now a person who has stayed in office under several successive leaders. Often mildly ironic or admiring of survival skills.

Sources