This page explains Chinese idiom dào xíng nì shī. Originating from Wu Zixu’s revenge tale in Records of the Grand Historian, it now strongly condemns retrograde acts defying public will and established norms.
This page unpacks the Chinese idiom “Zì xiāng máo dùn” (self‑contradiction) from Han Feizi. It tells the spear‑and‑shield fable, explains its figurative sense, cultural influence and corresponding English expressions.
This page explains the idiom Fa Bu E Gui from Han Feizi. It means law must not favour nobles or powerful figures, demanding equal enforcement regardless of social rank and status.
This page explains the idiom Fa Bu Xun Qing, originating from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It means law must not bend to private affection, advocating impartial justice free from nepotism and personal favoritism.
This page explains the idiom Mai Du Huan Zhu from Han Feizi. A Zheng man buys an ornate jewel‑box yet gives back the pearl. It criticizes valuing fancy outer packaging over genuine inner substance and poor discernment.
This page explains the Chinese idiom Liang Yao Ku Kou. Originating from Han Feizi, it compares helpful but unpleasant sincere criticism to bitter‑tasting curative medicine, whose counterpart is “faithful words grate on the ear”.
This page explains the Chinese idiom Yùn jīn chéng fēng from Zhuangzi ‑ Xu Wugui. Telling Carpenter‑Shi’s axe‑feat, it stresses supreme skill needs a trusting counterpart, also evoking grief over losing one’s worthy confidant.
This entry explains idiom “Bu shi zhou su”, originating from Records of the Grand Historian. Based on Bo Yi and Shu Qi’s story, it symbolizes moral integrity: refusing benefits from a regime deemed unjust, with nuanced positive‑critical readings.
This entry explains idiom “Hua fu xiu wei shen qi” from Zhuangzi ‑ Knowledge Rambling in the North. It conveys transforming decayed, worthless things into marvels, rooted in the Daoist idea of fluid, relative values.