忘恩负义

Pronunciation: wàng ēn fù yì Literal meaning: Forget kindness betray loyalty

Origin & Usage

Commonly used in classical Chinese, the idiom 忘恩负义 (wàng ēn fù yì) conveys the idea of forgetting kindness and betraying loyalty. The characters break down as follows: 忘 (wàng) means 'forget,' 恩 (ēn) refers to 'kindness' or 'favor,' 负 (fù) means 'betray,' and 义 (yì) stands for 'loyalty' or 'righteousness.' This idiom is often used to describe someone who is ungrateful and disloyal, turning against those who have helped them. In modern contexts, it serves as a cautionary term, reminding individuals of the importance of gratitude and loyalty in maintaining relationships.

Examples

English: "He forgot all the help he received and acted selfishly, showing his true colors."

Chinese: 他忘恩负义，完全不记得曾经的帮助。