清清白白 — “To be pure and honest”
清清白白 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be pure and honest”. To have an impeccable character; to be incorruptible and above reproach.
Frequency
清清白白 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 清qīng
- 清qīng
- 白bái
- 白bái
清清白白 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 清清白白
他一生为人处世都清清白白，从不贪图小便宜。
He lived his whole life with integrity, never seeking petty gains.
Origin and Story of 清清白白
After an erotic sachet was discovered in the Grand View Garden, Madam Wang ordered Wang Xifeng to search the maids' quarters, hoping to find some clues.
In Xichun's room, her maid Yuhua was found to have hidden gold and silver jewelry.
Xichun firmly insisted on expelling Yuhua. You Shi and others investigated the reason and proved that Yuhua had not stolen the items.
However, Xichun, wishing to maintain a pure and untainted reputation, still resolutely insisted on dismissing Yuhua.
Idioms Related to 清清白白
Synonyms of 清清白白
Antonyms of 清清白白
More idioms starting with 清
- qīng清yī一sè色entirely of one kind
- qīng清lì丽jùn俊yì逸Clear, beautiful, and elegant
- qīng清jiāo交sù素yǒu友Pure associations, sincere friends
- qīng清cāng仓pán盘kù库clearance and inventory check
- qīng清jìng净jì寂miè灭pure tranquility and ultimate liberation
- qīng清jìng净wú无wéi为tranquility and non-interference
- qīng清yuán原zhèng正běn本address the root cause
- qīng清jūn君cè侧remove corrupting influences from a leader
- qīng清hé和píng平yǔn允gentle, mild, and balanced temperament
- qīng清shèng圣zhuó浊xián贤euphemism for clear and turbid wine
- qīng清yè夜mén扪xīn心reflect on one's conscience at night
- qīng清tiān天bái白rì日in broad daylight
Questions about 清清白白
- What does 清清白白 mean?
- 清清白白 (qīng qīng bái bái) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be pure and honest”.
- How do you pronounce 清清白白?
- 清清白白 is pronounced qīng qīng bái bái in Mandarin Chinese.
- Where does 清清白白 come from?
- 清清白白 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 清清白白?
- 品行纯洁，没有污点，特指廉洁