防民之口，甚于防川 — “Stopping people's mouths is worse than blocking a river”
防民之口，甚于防川 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Suppressing public opinion or criticism leads to greater harm than blocking a river, implying that it is dangerous and ultimately ineffective to prevent people from expressing their views”. Literally, “Stopping people's mouths is worse than blocking a river”.
防民之口，甚于防川 Pronunciation and Pinyin
防民之口，甚于防川 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 防民之口，甚于防川
Origin and Story of 防民之口，甚于防川
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, King Li of Zhou was notoriously tyrannical. Shao Gong advised King Li not to be too extreme, but King Li responded by sending agents to monitor the people's words and actions on the streets.
As a result, people dared only to exchange glances when they met, afraid to speak.
Shao Gong sighed, stating that 'stopping people's mouths is more dangerous than blocking a river,' emphasizing that such an approach was excessive and unsustainable.
Before long, the enraged populace rose up and overthrew King Li.
Idioms Related to 防民之口，甚于防川
Synonyms of 防民之口，甚于防川
Antonyms of 防民之口，甚于防川
More idioms starting with 防
- fáng防bù不jí及fáng防too late to prevent
- fáng防bù不shèng胜fáng防impossible to guard against all threats
- fáng防rén人zhī之kǒu口，，shén甚yú于fáng防chuān川Suppressing public opinion is harder than blocking a river
- fáng防wēi微dù杜jiàn渐nip a problem in the bud
- fáng防wēi微dù杜xìn衅nip evil in the bud
- fáng防wēi微lǜ虑yuǎn远nip problems early, plan for future
- fáng防xīn心shè摄xíng行Guard mind, control conduct
- fáng防huàn患yú于wèi未rán然nip trouble in the bud
- fáng防huàn患wèi未rán然prevent trouble before it happens
- fáng防huàn患wèi未méng萌nip trouble in the bud
- fáng防yì意rú如chéng城Guard mind against selfish desires like a city
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Open the tool →Questions about 防民之口，甚于防川
What does 防民之口，甚于防川 mean?
防民之口，甚于防川 (fáng mín zhī kǒu ， shén yú fáng chuān) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Suppressing public opinion or criticism leads to greater harm than blocking a river, implying that it is dangerous and ultimately ineffective to prevent people from expressing their views”.
How do you pronounce 防民之口，甚于防川?
防民之口，甚于防川 is pronounced fáng mín zhī kǒu ， shén yú fáng chuān in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 防民之口，甚于防川 literally mean?
Literally, 防民之口，甚于防川 means “Stopping people's mouths is worse than blocking a river”. It is used to mean “Suppressing public opinion or criticism leads to greater harm than blocking a river, implying that it is dangerous and ultimately ineffective to prevent people from expressing their views”.
Where does 防民之口，甚于防川 come from?
防民之口，甚于防川 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 防民之口，甚于防川?
防：阻止；甚：超过。阻止人民进行批评的危害，比堵塞河川引起的水患还要严重。指不让人民说话，必有大害。