自暴自棄

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See also: 自暴自弃

Chinese

to allow itself to be ignored; to throw itself away; to cause itself to be discarded
trad. (自暴自棄) 自暴 自棄
simp. (自暴自弃) 自暴 自弃

Etymology

From Mencius (《孟子·離婁上》):

自暴不可自棄禮義自暴不能自棄 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
自暴不可自弃礼义自暴不能自弃 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zìbào zhě, bùkě yǔ yǒu yán yě; zìqì zhě, bù kě yǔ yǒu wéi yě. Yán fēi lǐyì, wèi zhī zìbào yě; wú shēn bùnéng jū rén yóu yì, wèi zhī zìqì yě.
With those who do violence to themselves, it is impossible to speak. With those who throw themselves away, it is impossible to do anything. To disown in his conversation propriety and righteousness, is what we mean by doing violence to one's self. To say "I am not able to dwell in benevolence or pursue the path of righteousness," is what we mean by throwing one's self away.

Pronunciation


Idiom

自暴自棄

  1. to give in to despair

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (自暴自棄):

Japanese

Kanji in this term

Grade: 2
ぼう
Grade: 5

Grade: 2

Grade: S
on'yomi

Adjective

()(ぼう)()() (jibōjiki-na (adnominal ()(ぼう)()() (jibōjiki na), adverbial ()(ぼう)()() (jibōjiki ni))

  1. desperate

Inflection

Noun

()(ぼう)()() (jibōjiki

  1. self-abandon, despair, abandon, desperation