枕流漱石
枕流漱石 (zhěn liú shù shí) literally means “pillow stream rinse stone” and expresses “live simply”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: zhen liu shu shi, zhen liu shu shi,枕流漱石 meaning, 枕流漱石 in english
Live simply
Pronunciation: zhěn liú shù shí
Literal meaning: Pillow stream rinse stone
Origin & Usage
This idiom, literally meaning 'pillow on the stream (流) and rinse with stones (石),' originated from a story about Sun Chu during the Jin Dynasty. He intended to say 枕石漱流 (pillow on stones, rinse in the stream), describing a life of reclusion. However, he mistakenly said 枕流漱石. When corrected, he stubbornly defended his phrasing, claiming he used the stream as a pillow to 'wash his ears' from the world's noise and the stones to 'clean his teeth.' This far-fetched justification turned the phrase into an idiom for someone making excuses or being willfully obstinate. It highlights the difference between genuine reclusion (枕石漱流) and using seemingly virtuous claims to mask stubbornness or wrongdoing.
Examples
English: "The researcher lived modestly while dedicating everything to her discoveries"
Chinese: 研究员过着简朴的生活，把一切都投入到研究发现中
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 枕流漱石 mean in English?
枕流漱石 (zhěn liú shù shí) literally translates to “Pillow stream rinse stone” and is used to express “Live simply”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 枕流漱石 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving live simply.
What is the pinyin for 枕流漱石?
The pinyin pronunciation for 枕流漱石 is “zhěn liú shù shí”.