虚怀若谷

Pronunciation: xū huái ruò gǔ
Literal meaning: Empty heart like valley

Origin & Usage

Derived from Daoist philosophy, this phrase advocates maintaining an empty (虚) heart/mind (怀) like (若) a valley (谷). The valley metaphor was particularly significant in Daoist thought - like a valley that receives all waters without preference, one should remain open to all ideas without prejudice. During the Song Dynasty, it became a crucial principle in Neo-Confucian scholarly discourse. Contemporary usage emphasizes intellectual humility and openness to new ideas, particularly valuable in leadership and learning contexts.

Examples

English: "The professor welcomed new ideas from his students"

Chinese: 教授欢迎学生们提出新的想法

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