不耻下问
不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn) literally means “not ashamed to ask below” and expresses “humble in learning”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: bu chi xia wen, bu chi xia wen,不耻下问 meaning, 不耻下问 in english
Humble in learning
Pronunciation: bù chǐ xià wèn Literal meaning: Not ashamed to ask below
Origin & Usage
Zigong asked Confucius why Kong Wenzi, a minister of Wei whose private conduct was not admirable, had been given the honorific 文 after his death. Confucius answered that he was quick and fond of learning, and not ashamed (不耻) to ask (问) those below him (下). The Analects preserves the exchange, and the point of it is sharper than it first appears: the quality being praised is not humility in general but the specific willingness to be seen not knowing something in front of a junior. It is still used exactly that way, of the senior person who asks the obvious question first.
Examples
English: "He is not afraid to seek advice from those less experienced than him."
Chinese: 他不耻下问，向经验不足的人请教。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
毫无疑问
háo wú yí wèn
Absolutely certain without any doubt
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过犹不及
guò yóu bù jí
Moderation in all things
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诲人不倦
huì rén bù juàn
Teach with tireless patience
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欲速不达
yù sù bù dá
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
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一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
Completely ignorant
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问心无愧
wèn xīn wú kuì
Clear conscience
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不知所措
bù zhī suǒ cuò
At a loss; not knowing what to do
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不耻下问 mean in English?
不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn) literally translates to “Not ashamed to ask below” and is used to express “Humble in learning”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 不耻下问 used?
Situation: He is not afraid to seek advice from those less experienced than him.
What is the pinyin for 不耻下问?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不耻下问 is “bù chǐ xià wèn”.