门可罗雀
门可罗雀 (mén kě luó què) literally means “door can catch sparrows” and expresses “deserted; hardly a visitor”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: men ke luo que, men ke luo que,门可罗雀 meaning, 门可罗雀 in english
Deserted; hardly a visitor
Pronunciation: mén kě luó què Literal meaning: Door can catch sparrows
Origin & Usage
Zhai Gong, when he held high office, had a doorway crowded with visitors. Dismissed, he found the gateway (门) so empty that one could (可) have strung a net (罗) across it for sparrows (雀). Restored to office, he saw the visitors coming back, and wrote on his gate that only in death and life is friendship known, only in poverty and wealth is its quality seen. The Records of the Grand Historian preserves the sign. The phrase describes deserted premises, and it never entirely loses Zhai Gong's bitterness about what emptied them.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
Learn more →
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
Learn more →
好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
Learn more →
物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Push far enough and it turns
Learn more →
塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
Learn more →
近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
Learn more →
夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
Learn more →
因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 门可罗雀 mean in English?
门可罗雀 (mén kě luó què) literally translates to “Door can catch sparrows” and is used to express “Deserted; hardly a visitor”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 门可罗雀 used?
Situation: After his departure, the once-bustling shop became deserted and quiet.
What is the pinyin for 门可罗雀?
The pinyin pronunciation for 门可罗雀 is “mén kě luó què”.