橘已成桔
[jú yĭ chéng jié]
The phrase "橘已成桔" is a play on words. In Chinese, 橘 (ju, meaning tangerine) and 桔 (ji, which is actually an incorrect form but sounds the same as 枯 (meaning withered or dried up)) sound almost the same. It implies something that once was lively has become stale or dry.