童叟无欺

Pronunciation: tóng sǒu wú qī Literal meaning: No deception of young or old

Origin & Usage

A shop sign before it was an idiom, and still most at home painted on one: neither children (童) nor the old (叟) are cheated (无欺). The pairing names the two customers easiest to short-change, one too inexperienced to check and one assumed unable to, so honesty toward them is offered as proof of honesty toward everyone. It is a merchant's claim about himself, which gives it a faint period flavour in modern use, and Chinese speakers deploy it half-ironically about anyone insisting a little too firmly on their own fairness.

Examples

English: "The shop is known for its honesty, treating everyone fairly."

Chinese: 这家店童叟无欺，所有顾客都能得到公正的对待。