是可忍，孰不可忍 — “If this can be tolerated”
是可忍，孰不可忍 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If this can be tolerated”. What cannot? This idiom implies that something has reached an absolutely intolerable or unbearable point, pushing one's patience to its limit. Literally, “If this can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated?”.
是可忍，孰不可忍 Pronunciation and Pinyin
是可忍，孰不可忍 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 是可忍，孰不可忍
Origin and Story of 是可忍，孰不可忍
During the late Spring and Autumn period, Ji Sunshi, a powerful noble in the State of Lu, manipulated state affairs, exiling Duke Zhao of Lu to the State of Qi and Duke Ai of Lu to the State of Wei.
His audacity knew no bounds: he even staged the 'Bayi' dance, a grand eight-row dance performance typically reserved for the Son of Heaven or a prince, in his private courtyard. This was a grave violation of the Zhou rites.
Confucius, utterly indignant, declared, 'If this can be tolerated – the eight-row dance performed in his courtyard – then what cannot be tolerated?'
Idioms Related to 是可忍，孰不可忍
Synonyms of 是可忍，孰不可忍
More idioms starting with 是
- shì是gǔ古fēi非jīn今affirm ancient, deny modern
- shì是kě可rěn忍，，shú孰bù不kě可róng容If this is tolerable, what isn't?
- shì是shì是fēi非fēi非distinguishing right from wrong
- shì是fēi非bù不fēn分unable to distinguish right from wrong
- shì是fēi非zhī之dì地a place of trouble or controversy
- shì是fēi非zhī之xīn心sense of right and wrong
- shì是fēi非rén人wǒ我complex human relationships of right and wrong
- shì是fēi非fēn分míng明distinguish right from wrong
- shì是fēi非kǒu口shé舌verbal disputes and gossip
- shì是fēi非zhǐ只wèi为duō多kāi开kǒu口Trouble comes from too much talk
- shì是fēi非dé得shī失rights and wrongs, gains and losses
- shì是fēi非qū曲zhí直the rights and wrongs of a matter
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Open the tool →Questions about 是可忍，孰不可忍
What does 是可忍，孰不可忍 mean?
是可忍，孰不可忍 (shì kě rěn ， shú bù kě rěn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If this can be tolerated”.
How do you pronounce 是可忍，孰不可忍?
是可忍，孰不可忍 is pronounced shì kě rěn ， shú bù kě rěn in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 是可忍，孰不可忍 literally mean?
Literally, 是可忍，孰不可忍 means “If this can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated?”. It is used to mean “If this can be tolerated”.
Where does 是可忍，孰不可忍 come from?
是可忍，孰不可忍 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 是可忍，孰不可忍?
是：这个；孰：那个。如果这个都可以容忍，还有什么不可容忍的呢？意思是绝不能容忍。