安步当车
安步当车 (ān bù dàng chē) literally means “peaceful walking substitutes carriage” and expresses “choose simpler pleasures over status displays”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: an bu dang che, an bu dang che,安步当车 meaning, 安步当车 in english
Choose simpler pleasures over status displays
Pronunciation: ān bù dàng chē Literal meaning: Peaceful walking substitutes carriage
Origin & Usage
This is from the Strategies of the Warring States, where the scholar Yan Chu declines the patronage of King Xuan of Qi. Offered position and a carriage, he answers that he would rather eat late so that plain food tastes like meat, and walk unhurried (安步) so that walking serves as (当) a carriage (车). The point is not frugality but independence: accepting the carriage would mean accepting the terms attached to it. Walking by choice earns it, and a trace of the original contentment survives.
Examples
English: "Rather than rushing between appointments, she chose to walk and enjoy the scenery"
Chinese: 她没有匆忙赶往约会，而是选择步行，欣赏沿途风景
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
安如泰山
ān rú tài shān
Absolutely stable and unshakable
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安然无恙
ān rán wú yàng
Completely safe and unharmed through danger
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同病相怜
tóng bìng xiāng lián
Sympathize with those sharing similar troubles
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坐立不安
zuò lì bù ān
Extremely restless and anxious
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居安思危
jū ān sī wēi
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
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螳臂当车
táng bì dāng chē
Futile resistance
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讳疾忌医
huì jí jì yī
Hiding problems worsens them
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姑息养奸
gū xī yǎng jiān
Leniency encourages worse behavior
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 安步当车 mean in English?
安步当车 (ān bù dàng chē) literally translates to “Peaceful walking substitutes carriage” and is used to express “Choose simpler pleasures over status displays”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 安步当车 used?
Situation: Rather than rushing between appointments, she chose to walk and enjoy the scenery
What is the pinyin for 安步当车?
The pinyin pronunciation for 安步当车 is “ān bù dàng chē”.
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