鞠躬尽瘁

Pronunciation: jū gōng jìn cuì Literal meaning: Bow and exhaust oneself completely

Origin & Usage

This idiom describes bowing (鞠躬) while exhausting oneself completely (尽瘁). It comes from Zhuge Liang's famous memorial 'Chu Shi Biao,' where he pledged to serve his lord until death exhausted him. The phrase represents the highest form of devotion and selfless service. The complete saying adds '死而后已' (only stopping at death). Modern usage describes total dedication to a cause, work, or duty, particularly praising those who sacrifice personal wellbeing for others.

Examples

English: "He devoted his entire life to public service until his last breath."

Chinese: 他鞠躬尽瘁，为公共服务奉献一生。