冰清玉洁
冰清玉洁 (bīng qīng yù jié) literally means “ice clear jade pure” and expresses “impeccable moral character and integrity”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: bing qing yu jie, bing qing yu jie,冰清玉洁 meaning, 冰清玉洁 in english
Impeccable moral character and integrity
Pronunciation: bīng qīng yù jié Literal meaning: Ice clear jade pure
Origin & Usage
Clear (清) as ice (冰), unblemished (洁) as jade (玉). The pairing is precise about two different qualities: ice is transparent, so nothing is concealed, and jade is unmarked, so nothing has stained it. Together they claim both openness and cleanness. The phrase belongs to reputation rather than conduct — how somebody stands rather than what they have done — and it lives in citations, memorials and, traditionally, accounts of women's chastity.
Examples
English: "Her reputation for ethical conduct remained unblemished throughout her political career"
Chinese: 她在整个政治生涯中保持着清白无瑕的道德声誉
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
冰消瓦解
bīng xiāo wǎ jiě
Complete collapse
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如履薄冰
rú lǚ bó bīng
Extreme caution in risky situations
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唇亡齿寒
chún wáng chǐ hán
Fates linked together
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雪上加霜
xuě shàng jiā shuāng
Add insult to injury; make things worse
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冰天雪地
bīng tiān xuě dì
Harsh conditions
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冷冷清清
lěng lěng qīng qīng
Deserted and lifeless atmosphere
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旁观者清
páng guān zhě qīng
Unbiased perspective
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囊萤映雪
náng yíng yìng xuě
Study despite hardship
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 冰清玉洁 mean in English?
冰清玉洁 (bīng qīng yù jié) literally translates to “Ice clear jade pure” and is used to express “Impeccable moral character and integrity”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 冰清玉洁 used?
Situation: Her reputation for ethical conduct remained unblemished throughout her political career
What is the pinyin for 冰清玉洁?
The pinyin pronunciation for 冰清玉洁 is “bīng qīng yù jié”.
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