人心不古
人心不古 (rén xīn bù gǔ) literally means “people's hearts not ancient” and expresses “moral decline”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: ren xin bu gu, ren xin bu gu,人心不古 meaning, 人心不古 in english
Moral decline
Pronunciation: rén xīn bù gǔ Literal meaning: People's hearts not ancient
Origin & Usage
The idiom 人心不古 (rén xīn bù gǔ) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to express the notion that people's hearts and values are not as virtuous or sincere as they were in ancient times. The characters 人 (rén) mean 'people,' 心 (xīn) means 'heart,' 不 (bù) means 'not,' and 古 (gǔ) means 'ancient.' This phrase paints a vivid image of a perceived decline in moral standards and integrity over time. In modern usage, it often reflects nostalgia for a past era when people were believed to be more honest and trustworthy. It serves as a reminder to uphold moral virtues and integrity in contemporary society.
Examples
English: "People today are less trustworthy than in the past"
Chinese: 如今的人心不古，信任变得稀少
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 人心不古 mean in English?
人心不古 (rén xīn bù gǔ) literally translates to “People's hearts not ancient” and is used to express “Moral decline”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 人心不古 used?
Situation: People today are less trustworthy than in the past
What is the pinyin for 人心不古?
The pinyin pronunciation for 人心不古 is “rén xīn bù gǔ”.