掩耳盗铃
掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) literally means “cover ears while stealing bell” and expresses “self-deception through ignoring reality”. 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: yan er dao ling, yan er dao ling,掩耳盗铃 meaning, 掩耳盗铃 in english
Self-deception through ignoring reality
Pronunciation: yǎn ěr dào líng
Literal meaning: Cover ears while stealing bell
Origin & Usage
This self-deceptive idiom describes covering (掩) one's ears (耳) while stealing (盗) a bell (铃), originating from the Warring States period text 'Lüshi Chunqiu.' It tells of a thief who coveted a bell but worried about its sound. His solution was to cover his own ears while stealing it, foolishly believing that if he couldn't hear it, others couldn't either. The absurdity perfectly captured self-deception through selective perception. During the Han Dynasty, the story became a standard example in legal contexts warning against transparent deceptions. Modern usage describes attempts to ignore obvious problems through willful blindness, particularly situations where people convince themselves that ignoring reality somehow changes it.
Examples
English: "The company ignored customer complaints while claiming excellent service"
Chinese: 公司无视客户投诉，同时声称提供卓越服务
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 掩耳盗铃 mean in English?
掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) literally translates to “Cover ears while stealing bell” and is used to express “Self-deception through ignoring reality”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 掩耳盗铃 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving self-deception through ignoring reality.
What is the pinyin for 掩耳盗铃?
The pinyin pronunciation for 掩耳盗铃 is “yǎn ěr dào líng”.