出生入死

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Chinese

to be born; to lay down one's own life, to give up one's own life to die
trad. (出生入死) 出生 入死
simp. #(出生入死) 出生 入死

Etymology

From Tao Te Ching.

This phrase 出生入死 has various interpretations, including "coming forth into life and entering death" or "exiting life and entering death" (see 出生 (chūshēng)).

The meaning "to risk one's own life" is attested earliest in 秋興賦 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn by 潘岳 (Pan Yue):

聞至人之休風兮，齊天地於一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
闻至人之休风兮，齐天地于一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 潘岳 Pan Yue, 《秋興賦》 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn, 3rd century CE
Wén zhìrén zhī xiūfēng xī, qí tiāndì yú yī zhǐ. Bǐ zhī ān ér wàng wēi xī, gù chūshēng ér rùsǐ.
I've heard of the wisemen's blissful manners, equalling Heaven and Earth with one finger / index / indication. They knew safety yet disregarded danger; so, coming forth into life / exiting life, they entered death.

Pronunciation

Idiom

出生入死

  1. risking one's life; without regard to one's own life
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