忘恩负义
忘恩负义 (wàng ēn fù yì) literally means “forget kindness betray loyalty” and expresses “ungrateful betrayal”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: wang en fu yi, wang en fu yi,忘恩负义 meaning, 忘恩负义 in english
Ungrateful betrayal
Pronunciation: wàng ēn fù yì Literal meaning: Forget kindness betray loyalty
Origin & Usage
Forget (忘) the kindness (恩) and turn your back on (负) what is owed (义). 义 is the load-bearing character: not loyalty as sentiment but obligation as a moral fact, the thing a person owes whether or not they feel like it. That is why the phrase bites. It charges someone not with coldness but with breaking a real debt, and Chinese treats it as among the more serious things you can say about a person's character, well beyond ordinary rudeness or neglect.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
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大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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天经地义
tiān jīng dì yì
Universal truth
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恩将仇报
ēn jiāng chóu bào
Ingratitude and betrayal
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光明磊落
guāng míng lěi luò
Upright and open; above board
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高风亮节
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Noble and steadfast
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德高望重
dé gāo wàng zhòng
Respected elder
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患难与共
huàn nàn yǔ gòng
Solidarity in hardship
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 忘恩负义 mean in English?
忘恩负义 (wàng ēn fù yì) literally translates to “Forget kindness betray loyalty” and is used to express “Ungrateful betrayal”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 忘恩负义 used?
Situation: He forgot all the help he received and acted selfishly, showing his true colors.
What is the pinyin for 忘恩负义?
The pinyin pronunciation for 忘恩负义 is “wàng ēn fù yì”.