靡靡之音 — “Decadent or enervating music”

靡靡之音 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Decadent or enervating music”. Dissolute tunes that corrupt morals and weaken one's will, often leading to a dispirited state. Literally, “decadent sounds”.

Frequency

靡靡之音 Pronunciation and Pinyin

靡靡之音 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
靡	mǐ	19	wasteful, extravagant, luxurious
靡	mǐ	19	wasteful, extravagant, luxurious
之	zhī	4	possessive or connective particle
音	yīn	9	sound, news, information

Example Sentence with 靡靡之音

那个年代，许多人认为爵士乐是靡靡之音，会腐蚀年轻人的心灵。

In that era, many people considered jazz music to be decadent tunes that would corrupt the minds of young people.

Origin and Story of 靡靡之音

During the late Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Ping of Jin constructed a lavish palace outside his capital. Duke Ling of Wei, accompanied by the musician Juan, came to offer congratulations.

During the celebratory banquet, musician Juan performed a melody he had learned by the Pu River.

However, Musician Kuang of Jin promptly intervened, explaining that this was 'mimi zhi yin' (decadent music) composed by Musician Yan for King Zhou of Shang towards the end of the Shang Dynasty. He warned that listening to such music would lead to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures and corrupt one's spirit.

Indeed, three years later, Duke Ping of Jin succumbed to his own desires and passed away.