从井救人 — “To jump into a well to save someone”
从井救人 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to jump into a well to save someone”. Originally used to describe an act that harms oneself without necessarily benefiting others, but now more commonly used to describe bravely risking one's life to save others in a perilous situation. Literally, “Jump into a well to save someone”.
从井救人 Pronunciation and Pinyin
从井救人 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 从井救人
Origin and Story of 从井救人
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius was teaching his disciples about benevolence and righteous deeds. His disciple Zai Yu asked him: 'If someone falls into a well, and I jump in to save them, but I also drown, is that an act of benevolence and righteous courage? If I don't save them, is it unbenevolent?'
Confucius replied that there are other, safer methods to rescue someone without necessarily endangering oneself.
This idiom originally criticized rash acts that might harm oneself without effectively helping others.
However, over time, its meaning evolved to predominantly describe the heroic act of risking one's own life to save others in perilous situations.
Idioms Related to 从井救人
Antonyms of 从井救人
More idioms starting with 从
- cóng从yī一yǐ以zhōng终remain faithful to the end
- cóng从yī一ér而zhōng终be faithful to one person for life
- cóng从zhōng中zuò作gěng梗create obstruction from within
- cóng从zhōng中yú渔lì利exploit for unfair personal gain
- cóng从cóng从róng容róng容calm and unhurried
- cóng从lìng令rú如liú流obey orders swiftly and completely
- cóng从hé何shuō说qǐ起Where to begin?
- cóng从sú俗jiù就jiǎn简follow common practices and simplify
- cóng从sú俗fú浮chén沉go with the flow
- cóng从wú吾suǒ所hǎo好follow my heart's desire
- cóng从shàn善rú如liú流readily accept good advice
- cóng从shàn善rú如dēng登It's hard to become good
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Open the tool →Questions about 从井救人
What does 从井救人 mean?
从井救人 (cóng jǐng jiù rén) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to jump into a well to save someone”.
How do you pronounce 从井救人?
从井救人 is pronounced cóng jǐng jiù rén in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 从井救人 literally mean?
Literally, 从井救人 means “Jump into a well to save someone”. It is used to mean “to jump into a well to save someone”.
Where does 从井救人 come from?
从井救人 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 从井救人?
从：跟从。跳到井里去救人。原比喻徒然危害自己而对别人没有好处的行为。现多比喻冒险救人。