门可罗雀

Pronunciation: mén kě luó què Literal meaning: Door can catch sparrows

Origin & Usage

The idiom 门可罗雀 (mén kě luó què) originates from the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记) by Sima Qian, a foundational text of Chinese historiography. It recounts the story of two Han dynasty officials, Ji An and Zheng Zhuang, who were known for their integrity and straightforwardness. Despite their virtues, they fell out of favor and were dismissed from their positions. Once influential, their homes were bustling with visitors, but after losing power, their residences became so deserted that one could set up nets to catch sparrows (罗雀). The characters 门 (mén, door), 可 (kě, can), 罗 (luó, net), and 雀 (què, sparrow) vividly depict this scene. Today, the idiom describes a situation where someone is abandoned by fair-weather friends when they lose their status or influence, highlighting the fickleness of human relationships.

Examples

English: "After his departure, the once-bustling shop became deserted and quiet."

Chinese: 他离开后，这家曾经热闹的商店门可罗雀。