瓜田李下
瓜田李下 (guā tián lǐ xià) literally means “melon field plum under” and expresses “avoid situations that invite suspicion”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: gua tian li xia, gua tian li xia,瓜田李下 meaning, 瓜田李下 in english
Avoid situations that invite suspicion
Pronunciation: guā tián lǐ xià Literal meaning: Melon field plum under
Origin & Usage
The 'Book of Rites' first warned against adjusting shoes in melon fields (瓜田) or hats under plum trees (李下), as these innocent actions could be misinterpreted as preparation for theft. Tang Dynasty writers expanded it beyond specific locations to any situation inviting misinterpretation. The agricultural settings provided concrete examples of how context can make innocent actions appear suspicious. Modern professional ethics still emphasizes avoiding not just impropriety but even its appearance.
Examples
English: "The professor avoided meeting alone with students to prevent any appearance of impropriety"
Chinese: 教授避免单独与学生会面，以防止任何不当行为的出现
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 瓜田李下 mean in English?
瓜田李下 (guā tián lǐ xià) literally translates to “Melon field plum under” and is used to express “Avoid situations that invite suspicion”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 瓜田李下 used?
Situation: The professor avoided meeting alone with students to prevent any appearance of impropriety
What is the pinyin for 瓜田李下?
The pinyin pronunciation for 瓜田李下 is “guā tián lǐ xià”.