髀里肉生 — “To grow fleshy on the thighs due to prolonged idleness”
髀里肉生 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to grow fleshy on the thighs due to prolonged idleness”. To lament one's lack of accomplishment or purpose because of leading a comfortable and inactive life. Literally, “Flesh grows on the thighs”.
髀里肉生 Pronunciation and Pinyin
髀里肉生 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 髀里肉生
Origin and Story of 髀里肉生
During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei lost his territory in battles with Cao Cao and sought refuge with Liu Biao.
Liu Biao hosted a banquet to comfort him. During the feast, the two conversed very happily.
Liu Bei went to the latrine and touched his thigh, discovering that the flesh had grown back due to his long period of inactivity. Upon returning to his seat, he couldn't help but lament, 'If things continue like this, when will I ever succeed in restoring the Han Dynasty?'
Hearing his regret, Liu Biao then gave him territory and an army.
Idioms Related to 髀里肉生
Synonyms of 髀里肉生
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Open the tool →Questions about 髀里肉生
What does 髀里肉生 mean?
髀里肉生 (bì lǐ ròu shēng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to grow fleshy on the thighs due to prolonged idleness”.
How do you pronounce 髀里肉生?
髀里肉生 is pronounced bì lǐ ròu shēng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 髀里肉生 literally mean?
Literally, 髀里肉生 means “Flesh grows on the thighs”. It is used to mean “to grow fleshy on the thighs due to prolonged idleness”.
Where does 髀里肉生 come from?
髀里肉生 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 髀里肉生?
髀：大腿。因为长久不骑马，大腿上的肉又长起来了。形容长久过着安逸舒适的生活，无所作为。