一尘不染
一尘不染 (yī chén bù rǎn) literally means “untouched by a single speck of dust” and expresses “moral purity”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: yi chen bu ran, yi chen bu ran,一尘不染 meaning, 一尘不染 in english
Moral purity
Pronunciation: yī chén bù rǎn Literal meaning: Untouched by a single speck of dust
Origin & Usage
In Buddhist analysis the 六尘, the six dusts, are the objects of the senses — what settles on a mind and clouds it. So a single (一) speck of dust (尘) not (不) staining (染) anything is a technical claim about a mind untouched by sense objects, and the phrase reaches Chinese through Tang Buddhist compilations. Two uses survive. Of a person it means incorruptible, typically an official; of a room, it means spotless, and the sacred sense is entirely gone.
Examples
English: "Her integrity remained unblemished, untouched by the corruption around her."
Chinese: 她的品德一尘不染，未受周围腐败的影响。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
耳濡目染
ěr rú mù rǎn
Learning unconsciously through constant exposure
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不屑一顾
bù xiè yī gù
Disdainfully dismiss as beneath consideration
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一毛不拔
yī máo bù bá
Extremely stingy
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一丝不苟
yī sī bù gǒu
Extremely careful and thorough
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一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
Completely ignorant
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一丝不挂
yī sī bù guà
Stark naked; wholly unattached
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不拘一格
bù jū yī gé
Not confined to a single mould
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一尘不染 mean in English?
一尘不染 (yī chén bù rǎn) literally translates to “Untouched by a single speck of dust” and is used to express “Moral purity”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 一尘不染 used?
Situation: Her integrity remained unblemished, untouched by the corruption around her.
What is the pinyin for 一尘不染?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一尘不染 is “yī chén bù rǎn”.