扇枕温被 — “To show extreme filial devotion and care for one's parents”

扇枕温被 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to show extreme filial devotion and care for one's parents”. Ensuring their comfort, often specifically by fanning their pillow in summer and warming their quilt in winter. Literally, “Fan pillow warm quilt”.

Frequency

扇枕温被 Pronunciation and Pinyin

扇枕温被 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
扇	shān	10	fan, door leaf, slap
枕	zhěn	8	pillow or rest head on
温	wēn	13	warm, mild, gentle
被	bèi	11	to be subjected to

Example Sentence with 扇枕温被

黄香的“扇枕温被”之举，是古代孝道美德的典范，至今仍被人们传颂。

Huang Xiang's act of "fanning the pillow and warming the quilt" is a classic example of ancient filial piety and is still widely praised today.

Origin and Story of 扇枕温被

During the Han Dynasty, there was a remarkably filial son named Huang Xiang. His mother passed away when he was young, but he grew up to be knowledgeable and considerate. In the scorching summer, he would use a fan to cool his father's mat before he went to bed. In the biting winter, he would first get into the quilt to warm it with his own body for his father.

Later, when he became the Prefect of Wei Commandery, the region was struck by a severe flood. Huang Xiang generously used his own official salary and family fortune to provide relief for the affected residents.

People lauded him with the saying, 'Unparalleled in the world, Huang Xiang of Jiangxia.'