曳尾涂中 — “Drag tail in the mud”
曳尾涂中 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to prefer a humble and free life (like a turtle dragging its tail in the mud) to a high official position with its inherent constraints; to live contentedly in obscurity rather than serving in officialdom”. Literally, “Drag tail in the mud”.
曳尾涂中 Pronunciation and Pinyin
曳尾涂中 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 曳尾涂中
Origin and Story of 曳尾涂中
During the Warring States period, the renowned philosopher Zhuangzi was a man of great talent. King Wei of Chu wanted to invite him to assist in governing the state and sent two envoys with many pearls and silks.
They found Zhuangzi fishing by the Puyang River, where he lived as a recluse.
Zhuangzi used an analogy, telling the envoys that he would rather be like a turtle dragging its tail in the mud, preserving its life by living in seclusion, instead of being enshrined in a temple and having its bones admired.
The envoys had no choice but to leave dejectedly, understanding Zhuangzi's preference for a simple, free life over officialdom.
Idioms Related to 曳尾涂中
Synonyms of 曳尾涂中
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Open the tool →Questions about 曳尾涂中
What does 曳尾涂中 mean?
曳尾涂中 (yè wěi tú zhōng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to prefer a humble and free life (like a turtle dragging its tail in the mud) to a high official position with its inherent constraints; to live contentedly in obscurity rather than serving in officialdom”.
How do you pronounce 曳尾涂中?
曳尾涂中 is pronounced yè wěi tú zhōng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 曳尾涂中 literally mean?
Literally, 曳尾涂中 means “Drag tail in the mud”. It is used to mean “to prefer a humble and free life (like a turtle dragging its tail in the mud) to a high official position with its inherent constraints; to live contentedly in obscurity rather than serving in officialdom”.
Where does 曳尾涂中 come from?
曳尾涂中 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 曳尾涂中?
原意是与其位列卿相，受爵禄、刑罚的管束，不如隐居而安于贫贱。后也比喻在污浊的环境里苟且偷生。