讳莫如深
讳莫如深 (huì mò rú shēn) literally means “avoid discussing as deep” and expresses “maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: hui mo ru shen, hui mo ru shen,讳莫如深 meaning, 讳莫如深 in english
Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter
Pronunciation: huì mò rú shēn Literal meaning: Avoid discussing as deep
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty court protocols first established this practice of avoiding discussion (讳莫) as deeply (如深) as possible regarding sensitive imperial matters. Tang Dynasty society expanded it to describe any collective agreement to maintain absolute silence about uncomfortable truths. The depth metaphor perfectly captured how some topics become so taboo that even acknowledging their existence becomes forbidden.
Examples
English: "The family never mentioned the scandal, treating it as a forbidden topic"
Chinese: 家人从不提及这一丑闻，将其视为禁忌话题
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
Learn more →
一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
Learn more →
以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīn
Treat others as yourself
Learn more →
海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
Learn more →
以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
Learn more →
同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
Learn more →
风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
Share hardships together
Learn more →
春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 讳莫如深 mean in English?
讳莫如深 (huì mò rú shēn) literally translates to “Avoid discussing as deep” and is used to express “Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 讳莫如深 used?
Situation: The family never mentioned the scandal, treating it as a forbidden topic
What is the pinyin for 讳莫如深?
The pinyin pronunciation for 讳莫如深 is “huì mò rú shēn”.