明哲保身

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 明哲保身. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 明哲保身, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 明哲保身 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 明哲保身 you have here. The definition of the word 明哲保身 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of明哲保身, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Chinese

wise; sensible; enlightened to protect oneself; A combination in the Lingqijing.
trad. (明哲保身) 明哲 保身
simp. #(明哲保身) 明哲 保身

Etymology

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》):

既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén.
Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

Pronunciation

Idiom

明哲保身

  1. to protect or defend oneself with wisdom and sound judgement
  2. to protect oneself above all other considerations; to place one's own interests at the foremost

Usage notes

As chengyu, the connotation has gradually shifted away from the literal meaning. The second sense carries the connotation that protecting one's self-interest (保身 (bǎoshēn)) is the "wisdom" referred to by 明哲 (míngzhé), and its use implies indifference, lack of altruism, unwillingness to take risk, etc., all of which considered practices of the wisdom.

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia