虚怀若谷
虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ) literally means “empty heart like valley” and expresses “stay humble and open”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: xu huai ruo gu, xu huai ruo gu,虚怀若谷 meaning, 虚怀若谷 in english
Stay humble and open
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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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 虚怀若谷 mean in English?
虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ) literally translates to “Empty heart like valley” and is used to express “Stay humble and open”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 虚怀若谷 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving stay humble and open.
What is the pinyin for 虚怀若谷?
The pinyin pronunciation for 虚怀若谷 is “xū huái ruò gǔ”.