extreme obsequiousness(tuò miàn zì gān)

extreme obsequiousness

Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Tu ò mi à NZ ì g ā n, which means others spit on their own face and let it dry without erasing it. Satire is intolerant. It comes from the biography of Lou Shide in the book of the new Tang Dynasty.

Analysis of Idioms

[antonym] tit for tat, eye for eye, tooth for tooth

Idiom usage

It can be used as predicate and attribute, with derogatory or commendatory meaning. If we can tolerate it, it is better than Lou Shide, who died not long ago: he told his brother to teach him. In Chapter 38 of Li Ruzhen's Jing Hua Yuan in the Qing Dynasty, Tang Ao said, "if you can be patient, it's not like Lou Shide, who died recently in this dynasty. He told his brother to teach him to do it himself." Lu Xun: "from this situation to the literary world, it really makes people feel that it's better to accept adversity and do things on their own." (7) on "scholars despise each other" - two injuries) "in song and Lu You's poem," if you can't bear it, you will find a fight on the ground; if you listen to your face, you will kill your anger. ". 」

The origin of Idioms

According to the biography of Lou Shide in the new book of Tang Dynasty, "his younger brother is in charge of daizhou, he is an official, and he is tolerant of teaching. My younger brother said, "if someone spits on his face, it's better to be clean." The teacher's morality said, "it's against his anger to be clean. It's against his ears."

Idioms and allusions

original text

Lou Shide's younger brother was the governor of daizhou. He was a good official and a good teacher. Teacher's Morality: "I'm a prime minister. You're a state herdsman again. You're too proud and spoiled. What's wrong with people? How can all our ancestors get skin?" His younger brother knelt down and said: "since now, although some people spit on a certain face and wipe it, I don't worry about my elder brother." Teacher's moral worry: "so I worry about it! If you spit on your face, you will be angry; if you wipe it, it is against your will, so you should be angry. If you don't wipe your saliva, you should laugh and accept it.

translation

The story takes place in the period of Empress Wu of Tang Dynasty. Lou Shide's talent was highly appreciated by Wu Zetian and attracted the envy of many people. Therefore, when his younger brother was released to be an official, he said to his younger brother, "I am appreciated by your majesty now, and many people have slandered me in front of your majesty, so you must be patient with everything this time." His brother said, "even if someone spits on my face, I can wipe it off myself." Lou Shide said: "this is not good. If you wipe it off, it is against the will of others. If you want to let others get rid of their anger, you should let your spittle on your face and kill yourself." Lou Shide was born in 630 A.D. in the fourth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. He was born in Yuanwu (now Yuanyang southwest). He was quick witted since childhood. When he was 20 years old, he passed the entrance examination and was appointed as a county captain of Jiangdu. Because of his outstanding talent, he was soon promoted to censor. In the second year of Yifeng (677 A.D.), the Tibetans on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau sent troops to invade the border of the Tang Dynasty. Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, issued the imperial edict to recruit warriors for a military counterattack. Lou Shide resolutely signed up to join the army to serve his country. The next year, the army of Tang Dynasty was not progressing well, and more than half of its troops were damaged. At the critical moment, Lou Shide stepped forward and resisted tenaciously, which greatly boosted the morale of the army of Tang Dynasty. Later, he was ordered to send an envoy to hold peace talks with Tubo in Chiling (today's Riyue mountain in Qinghai), so as to promote reconciliation and strike. After a few years, Tubo invaded again. He led his troops to fight back. Because of his good command, he fought eight battles and won eight victories in baishuijian (now the south of Huangyuan in Qinghai), which greatly curbed Tubo's offensive. after Wu Zetian changed Tang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty, she took Luoyang as the capital of God, and Lou Shide was put in great importance. She became a prime minister and made many miraculous achievements. Lou has a broad mind and is famous for his tolerance. One year, his younger brother was appointed governor of daizhou. Before taking office, he came to his elder brother's home in Luoyang and asked him if he had anything to explain. Lou Shi said: "I've become prime minister. Now you're going to be a senior member of the party. You're so proud and spoiled that someone must hate us. To avoid it, we must learn to be patient. " His younger brother immediately knelt on the ground and said, "don't worry. Even if someone spits on my face, I will wipe it myself. I will never care about it." Unexpectedly, Lou Shide thought that his younger brother still couldn't do it. He repeatedly warned his younger brother: "when someone is angry, spit on your face. Once you wipe it, his anger will not disappear. He will continue to hate you. In my opinion, if someone spits on your face, don't wipe it off yourself. You should let it dry naturally. " ”

Chinese PinYin : tuò miàn zì gān