








箪瓢陋巷 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be content with a simple and humble life”. To find joy in a plain lifestyle despite poverty. Literally, “A bamboo basket of food and a gourd ladle of water, in a humble alley”.
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius was most fond of his student Yan Hui, who greatly respected Confucius. Yan Hui would immediately correct any shortcomings Confucius pointed out.
Confucius once asked him why he didn't seek an official position. Yan Hui replied that as long as he learned the master's virtues and knowledge, there was no need to become an official.
Confucius praised Yan Hui, saying he ate from a bamboo basket, drank from a gourd ladle, and lived in a humble alley, yet he was a great sage.

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Open the tool →箪瓢陋巷 (dān piáo lòu xiàng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be content with a simple and humble life”.
箪瓢陋巷 is pronounced dān piáo lòu xiàng in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 箪瓢陋巷 means “a bamboo basket of food and a gourd ladle of water, in a humble alley”. It is used to mean “to be content with a simple and humble life”.
箪瓢陋巷 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
箪:古代盛饭的圆形竹器;瓢:古代装水的小容器。一箪食物,一瓢汤水。形容生活简朴,安贫乐道