许由洗耳 — “Xu You washes his ears”
许由洗耳 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to refuse high office or worldly honors, preferring a pure and reclusive life; to show disdain for worldly fame and power”. Literally, “Xu You washes his ears”.
许由洗耳 Pronunciation and Pinyin
许由洗耳 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 许由洗耳
Origin and Story of 许由洗耳
In ancient times, Emperor Yao learned of Xu You, a highly respected and capable sage, and decided to offer him the throne.
Upon hearing this, Xu You immediately fled overnight. He preferred a peaceful, reclusive life, far from worldly affairs.
Emperor Yao sent people to search for him and eventually found him on Mount Ji, reiterating his invitation for Xu You to become king. Xu You firmly refused, feeling that such talk had contaminated his ears, so he went to a nearby river and repeatedly washed them, symbolizing his rejection of worldly power and his desire for purity.
Idioms Related to 许由洗耳
Synonyms of 许由洗耳
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Open the tool →Questions about 许由洗耳
What does 许由洗耳 mean?
许由洗耳 (xǔ yóu xǐ ěr) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to refuse high office or worldly honors, preferring a pure and reclusive life; to show disdain for worldly fame and power”.
How do you pronounce 许由洗耳?
许由洗耳 is pronounced xǔ yóu xǐ ěr in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 许由洗耳 literally mean?
Literally, 许由洗耳 means “Xu You washes his ears”. It is used to mean “to refuse high office or worldly honors, preferring a pure and reclusive life; to show disdain for worldly fame and power”.
Where does 许由洗耳 come from?
许由洗耳 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 许由洗耳?
许由：远古时代人名。许由洗自己的耳朵，指不想当官