大义灭亲
大义灭亲 (dà yì miè qīn) literally means “great duty destroys kin” and expresses “justice over family”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: da yi mie qin, da yi mie qin,大义灭亲 meaning, 大义灭亲 in english
Justice over family
Pronunciation: dà yì miè qīn Literal meaning: Great duty destroys kin
Origin & Usage
Shi Que's son Shi Hou had helped Zhou Xu murder the ruler of Wei and take his place. Shi Que, retired and consulted as an elder, arranged for both men to travel to Chen, and sent word ahead that they should be seized. Both were executed, his son among them. The Zuo Zhuan's compiler calls this great duty (大义) destroying (灭) kin (亲), and means it as praise. The phrase is still used approvingly, and it retains the weight of the original case — it is not for reporting a relative's parking offence.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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患难与共
huàn nàn yǔ gòng
Solidarity in hardship
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舍己为人
shě jǐ wèi rén
Selflessness
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天经地义
tiān jīng dì yì
Universal truth
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公而忘私
gōng ér wàng sī
Public duty crowds out private interest
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以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
Lead by example
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忘恩负义
wàng ēn fù yì
Ungrateful betrayal
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断章取义
duàn zhāng qǔ yì
Out of context
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 大义灭亲 mean in English?
大义灭亲 (dà yì miè qīn) literally translates to “Great duty destroys kin” and is used to express “Justice over family”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 大义灭亲 used?
Situation: He chose to report his corrupt brother to the authorities, prioritizing justice over family loyalty.
What is the pinyin for 大义灭亲?
The pinyin pronunciation for 大义灭亲 is “dà yì miè qīn”.
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