讳莫如深(諱莫如深)
讳莫如深 (huì mò rú shēn) literally means “avoid discussing as deep”and expresses “maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships & character.
Also searched as: hui mo ru shen, hui mo ru shen,讳莫如深 meaning, 讳莫如深 in english
Pronunciation: huì mò rú shēn Literal meaning: Avoid discussing as deep
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty court protocols first established this practice of avoiding discussion (讳莫) as deeply (如深) as possible regarding sensitive imperial matters. Tang Dynasty society expanded it to describe any collective agreement to maintain absolute silence about uncomfortable truths. The depth metaphor perfectly captured how some topics become so taboo that even acknowledging their existence becomes forbidden.
When to Use
Situation: The family never mentioned the scandal, treating it as a forbidden topic
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
不远千里
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
Learn more →
朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
Learn more →
魂牵梦萦
hún qiān mèng yíng
Yearn day and night
Learn more →
恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
Learn more →
难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
Learn more →
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
Learn more →
一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
Learn more →
白头偕老
bái tóu xié lǎo
Grow old together; lifelong partnership
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 讳莫如深 mean in English?
讳莫如深 (huì mò rú shēn) literally translates to “Avoid discussing as deep”and is used to express “Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theRelationships & Character category..
When is 讳莫如深 used?
Situation: The family never mentioned the scandal, treating it as a forbidden topic
What is the pinyin for 讳莫如深?
The pinyin pronunciation for 讳莫如深 is “huì mò rú shēn”.