脱靴磨墨 — “Take off shoes and grind ink”
脱靴磨墨 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to serve or flatter someone, especially an intellectual or superior, with extreme deference and humility; to act as a subservient assistant”. Literally, “Take off shoes and grind ink”.
脱靴磨墨 Pronunciation and Pinyin
脱靴磨墨 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 脱靴磨墨
Origin and Story of 脱靴磨墨
During the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai sought an official position by taking an imperial examination. However, Yang Guozhong and Gao Lishi, envious of his talent, publicly ruined his examination papers, claiming he wasn't even worthy enough for them to take off his shoes and grind ink.
Later, Emperor Xuanzong received a challenging document from a foreign country that no one in the court could decipher. He Zhizhang recommended Li Bai to the emperor.
After Li Bai successfully translated the document, he seized the opportunity to request Emperor Xuanzong's permission to have Yang Guozhong and Gao Lishi personally take off his shoes and grind ink for him, thus avenging the humiliation he had suffered.
Idioms Related to 脱靴磨墨
More idioms starting with 脱
- tuō脱kǒu口chéng成zhāng章speak eloquently and spontaneously
- tuō脱kǒu口ér而chū出blurt out without thinking
- tuō脱ké壳jīn金chán蝉escape by a clever stratagem
- tuō脱tiān天lòu漏wǎng网act recklessly without fear of consequences
- tuō脱shǒu手dàn弹wán丸smoothly flowing and exquisitely crafted writing
- tuō脱bái白guà挂lǜ绿embark on an official career
- tuō脱pí皮diào掉ròu肉work oneself to the bone
- tuō脱jiāng缰zhī之mǎ马uncontrollable like a runaway horse
- tuō脱tāi胎huàn换gǔ骨to undergo a complete transformation
- tuō脱páo袍tuì退wèi位resign from a post
- tuō脱yǐng颖náng囊zhuī锥outstanding talent reveals itself
- tuō脱yǐng颖ér而chū出To stand out by superior talent
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Open the tool →Questions about 脱靴磨墨
What does 脱靴磨墨 mean?
脱靴磨墨 (tuō xuē mó mò) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to serve or flatter someone, especially an intellectual or superior, with extreme deference and humility; to act as a subservient assistant”.
How do you pronounce 脱靴磨墨?
脱靴磨墨 is pronounced tuō xuē mó mò in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 脱靴磨墨 literally mean?
Literally, 脱靴磨墨 means “Take off shoes and grind ink”. It is used to mean “to serve or flatter someone, especially an intellectual or superior, with extreme deference and humility; to act as a subservient assistant”.
Where does 脱靴磨墨 come from?
脱靴磨墨 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 脱靴磨墨?
指极力侍侯与讨好文人