借花献佛 — “To offer a gift or favor using someone else's possessions or efforts”
借花献佛 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to offer a gift or favor using someone else's possessions or efforts”. Often implying a gesture of goodwill made at no personal cost. Literally, “Borrow flowers to offer to Buddha”.
借花献佛 Pronunciation and Pinyin
借花献佛 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 借花献佛
Origin and Story of 借花献佛
Once upon a time, a small town was severely plagued by locusts, causing all plants to wither. Moreover, wild beasts often descended from the mountains to prey on chickens and ducks, making the townspeople feel uneasy.
Therefore, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha descended from heaven, using his Dharma to eliminate the locusts and tame the wild beasts.
The townspeople were immensely grateful to the Buddha. Among them, a poor man specifically prepared a bouquet of fresh flowers for the Buddha.
When Siddhartha Gautama saw the flower-giver, dressed in tattered clothes and covered in dirt, yet holding a beautiful bouquet, he couldn't help but ask, 'Does your family need my help?'
The man replied, 'Oh Buddha, I dare not deceive you. My family is indeed very poor; even this bouquet of flowers I had to borrow. However, this is my sincere offering, so please accept it.'
Siddhartha Gautama was deeply moved. He then liberated all the poor people in the town from poverty, and from then on, everyone lived happily.
Idioms Related to 借花献佛
Synonyms of 借花献佛
Antonyms of 借花献佛
More idioms starting with 借
- jiè借shū书liú留zhēn真borrow book, keep original, return copy
- jiè借jiāo交bào报chóu仇Leverage connections to help avenge
- jiè借tā他rén人jiǔ酒bēi杯，，jiāo浇zì自jǐ己kuài块lěi垒Use external means to relieve one's own frustrations
- jiè借gōng公xíng行sī私use public office for private gain
- jiè借dāo刀shā杀rén人kill with a borrowed knife
- jiè借jiàn剑shā杀rén人use another to harm a third party
- jiè借gǔ古yù喻jīn今use past to illustrate present
- jiè借gǔ古fěng讽jīn今criticize present by referencing past
- jiè借pō坡xià下lǘ驴take advantage of an opportunity
- jiè借kè客bào报chóu仇use another to exact revenge
- jiè借kòu寇bīng兵，，jī赍dào盗liáng粮aid an enemy or villain
- jiè借kòu寇jī赍dào盗aid a villain
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Open the tool →Questions about 借花献佛
What does 借花献佛 mean?
借花献佛 (jiè huā xiàn fó) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to offer a gift or favor using someone else's possessions or efforts”.
How do you pronounce 借花献佛?
借花献佛 is pronounced jiè huā xiàn fó in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 借花献佛 literally mean?
Literally, 借花献佛 means “Borrow flowers to offer to Buddha”. It is used to mean “to offer a gift or favor using someone else's possessions or efforts”.
Where does 借花献佛 come from?
借花献佛 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 借花献佛?
比喻用别人的东西做人情。