大义灭亲

Pronunciation: dà yì miè qīn Literal meaning: Uphold justice over kin

Origin & Usage

The idiom 大义灭亲 (dà yì miè qīn) originates from the historical text 《左传》 (Zuo Zhuan), specifically from the story of Shi Que (石碏) during the Spring and Autumn period. Shi Que was a minister in the state of Wei (卫), and his son Shi Hou (石厚) conspired with Zhou Xu (州吁) to murder the ruler, Huan Gong (桓公), and seize power. Despite his familial ties, Shi Que prioritized justice and righteousness (大义, great justice) over personal relationships (亲, kin). He reported their crimes to the neighboring state of Chen, leading to their capture and execution. This idiom illustrates the moral courage to uphold justice even at the cost of family bonds. In modern usage, it describes the act of sacrificing personal relationships to uphold justice and integrity.

Examples

English: "He chose to report his corrupt brother to the authorities, prioritizing justice over family loyalty."

Chinese: 他选择向当局举报腐败的兄弟，把正义置于家庭忠诚之上。