







悦近来远 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to win the hearts of the local people and attract outsiders”. To please those near and draw in those from afar through good governance or conduct. Literally, “delight those nearby, attract those from afar”.
During the Spring and Autumn period, Shen Zhuliang, a high-ranking official of the State of Chu, was known as Duke Ye because of his fiefdom in Ye.
When Confucius traveled through various states, he arrived at Ye, where Duke Ye asked him for advice on how to govern a region.
Confucius replied, "Let those nearby be pleased, and those from afar will come."
He explained that one should first ensure the local people are joyful and without grievances, and then people from distant places would be attracted and come to join them.

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Open the tool →悦近来远 (yuè jìn lái yuǎn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to win the hearts of the local people and attract outsiders”.
悦近来远 is pronounced yuè jìn lái yuǎn in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 悦近来远 means “delight those nearby, attract those from afar”. It is used to mean “to win the hearts of the local people and attract outsiders”.
悦近来远 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
使近者悦服,远者来归。