程门立雪
程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) literally means “cheng door stand snow” and expresses “show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: cheng men li xue, cheng men li xue,程门立雪 meaning, 程门立雪 in english
Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom
Pronunciation: chéng mén lì xuě Literal meaning: Cheng door stand snow
Origin & Usage
The History of Song records that Yang Shi, already an official of forty, went with a friend to put a question to the philosopher Cheng Yi and found him sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. They waited outside rather than disturb him. When Cheng Yi noticed them the snow (雪) at the door (程门) was a foot deep and they were still standing (立) in it. The phrase is the Chinese standard for respect shown to a teacher, and the detail that matters is that Yang Shi was not a boy.
Examples
English: "The young researcher spent hours outside the professor's office seeking mentorship"
Chinese: 这位年轻研究人员在教授办公室外花费数小时寻求指导
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
囊萤映雪
náng yíng yìng xuě
Study despite hardship
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雪上加霜
xuě shàng jiā shuāng
Add insult to injury; make things worse
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汗牛充栋
hàn niú chōng dòng
So many books they cannot be housed
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言传身教
yán chuán shēn jiào
Teach by word and deed
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冰消瓦解
bīng xiāo wǎ jiě
Complete collapse
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唇亡齿寒
chún wáng chǐ hán
Fates linked together
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如履薄冰
rú lǚ bó bīng
Extreme caution in risky situations
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冰清玉洁
bīng qīng yù jié
Impeccable moral character and integrity
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 程门立雪 mean in English?
程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) literally translates to “Cheng door stand snow” and is used to express “Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 程门立雪 used?
Situation: The young researcher spent hours outside the professor's office seeking mentorship
What is the pinyin for 程门立雪?
The pinyin pronunciation for 程门立雪 is “chéng mén lì xuě”.
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