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
The idiom 不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn) originates from the Analects of Confucius (论语, Lúnyǔ), specifically from the chapter 公冶长 (Gōng Yě Zhǎng). It tells the story of Kong Yu (孔圉), a minister of the state of Wei during the Spring and Autumn period. Despite his high status and intelligence, Kong Yu was known for his humility and willingness to seek knowledge from those of lower status or lesser knowledge without feeling ashamed. Confucius praised this quality, explaining to his student Zigong (子贡) that Kong Yu's ability to learn from anyone was what made him deserving of the posthumous title 'Wengong' (文公). The idiom breaks down as follows: 不 (bù, not), 耻 (chǐ, ashamed), 下 (xià, lower), 问 (wèn, ask). In modern usage, it emphasizes the virtue of humility in learning, encouraging people to seek knowledge from all sources, regardless of status.
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
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róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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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”.