枕流漱石
枕流漱石 (zhěn liú shù shí) literally means “pillow stream rinse stone” and expresses “live simply”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: zhen liu shu shi, zhen liu shu shi,枕流漱石 meaning, 枕流漱石 in english
Live simply
Pronunciation: zhěn liú shù shí Literal meaning: Pillow stream rinse stone
Origin & Usage
This idiom, literally meaning 'pillow on the stream (流) and rinse with stones (石),' originated from a story about Sun Chu during the Jin Dynasty. He intended to say 枕石漱流 (pillow on stones, rinse in the stream), describing a life of reclusion. However, he mistakenly said 枕流漱石. When corrected, he stubbornly defended his phrasing, claiming he used the stream as a pillow to 'wash his ears' from the world's noise and the stones to 'clean his teeth.' This far-fetched justification turned the phrase into an idiom for someone making excuses or being willfully obstinate. It highlights the difference between genuine reclusion (枕石漱流) and using seemingly virtuous claims to mask stubbornness or wrongdoing.
Examples
English: "The researcher lived modestly while dedicating everything to her discoveries"
Chinese: 研究员过着简朴的生活，把一切都投入到研究发现中
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 枕流漱石 mean in English?
枕流漱石 (zhěn liú shù shí) literally translates to “Pillow stream rinse stone” and is used to express “Live simply”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 枕流漱石 used?
Situation: The researcher lived modestly while dedicating everything to her discoveries
What is the pinyin for 枕流漱石?
The pinyin pronunciation for 枕流漱石 is “zhěn liú shù shí”.
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