gū孤kǔ苦líng伶dīng仃
lonely and helpless; solitary and destitute, without any support or companionship
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
After Emperor Wu of Jin unified the country, he promoted a governance philosophy centered on filial piety, encouraging people to respect their parents and elders. He intended to appoint Li Mi, a high-ranking official from the former Western Shu kingdom, and thus issued an imperial decree naming Li Mi as a court gentleman.
Li Mi, however, was reluctant to accept the position. He submitted a memorial to Emperor Wu, explaining that his grandmother was old, alone, and completely without support (孤苦伶仃). He requested to care for his grandmother first before taking on any official duties.