宁为玉碎
宁为玉碎 (nìng wéi yù suì) literally means “rather be shattered like jade” and expresses “integrity over compromise”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: ning wei yu sui, ning wei yu sui,宁为玉碎 meaning, 宁为玉碎 in english
Integrity over compromise
Pronunciation: nìng wéi yù suì Literal meaning: Rather be shattered like jade
Origin & Usage
In the History of Northern Qi, Yuan Jinghao refuses to save himself by taking the ruling house's surname: 大丈夫宁可玉碎，不能瓦全 — a real man would rather (宁) be jade (玉) shattered (碎) than a roof tile kept whole. He was killed for it. The form quoted today smooths 可 and 能 into a matched pair, but the comparison is unchanged, and it does all the work: jade broken is still jade, tile intact is still roofing, so the choice offered is not between destruction and survival but between two kinds of remaining. It is quoted in Chinese for principled refusal, and it is a heavy phrase, not used lightly.
Examples
English: "He chose to stand by his principles, even if it meant losing everything."
Chinese: 他宁愿为自己的原则而玉碎，也不愿意妥协。
Related Chinese Idioms
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jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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shě jǐ wèi rén
Selflessness
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宁静致远
níng jìng zhì yuǎn
Tranquility leads to success
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大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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gōng ér wàng sī
Public duty crowds out private interest
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Solidarity in hardship
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三顾茅庐
sān gù máo lú
Sincere invitation
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以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
Lead by example
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 宁为玉碎 mean in English?
宁为玉碎 (nìng wéi yù suì) literally translates to “Rather be shattered like jade” and is used to express “Integrity over compromise”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 宁为玉碎 used?
Situation: He chose to stand by his principles, even if it meant losing everything.
What is the pinyin for 宁为玉碎?
The pinyin pronunciation for 宁为玉碎 is “nìng wéi yù suì”.