同流合污 — “To go along with the evil current and defile oneself”
同流合污 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to go along with the evil current and defile oneself”. To associate with wicked people and do evil things. Literally, “Flow with the same current, join in the defilement”.
Frequency
同流合污 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 同tóng
- 流liú
- 合hé
- 污wū
同流合污 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 同流合污
他原本是个正直的人，但在那群人的影响下，也渐渐开始同流合污，做出了许多不齿的事情。
He was originally an upright person, but under the influence of that group, he gradually started to go along with them in their evil deeds and did many disgraceful things.
Origin and Story of 同流合污
During the Warring States period, Mencius discussed with his student Wan Zhang how Confucius deeply loathed 'xiangyuan.' Wan Zhang didn't understand who these 'xiangyuan' were.
Mencius explained that 'xiangyuan' were those amiable people in the village who were artful dodgers, skilled at flattery and pleasing others – essentially 'yes-men.' He stated that they 'conform to the common current and join in the defilement of the world,' being rotten at their core and utterly detestable.
Idioms Related to 同流合污
Synonyms of 同流合污
More idioms starting with 同
- tóng同yè业xiāng相chóu仇competitors are often at odds
- tóng同chóu仇dí敌kài忾share a common hatred for the enemy
- tóng同chóu仇dí敌kǎi慨unite in common hatred against an enemy
- tóng同xiū休gòng共qī戚share joy and sorrow
- tóng同xiū休děng等qī戚share joys and sorrows
- tóng同chū出yī一zhé辙cut from the same cloth
- tóng同lì利xiāng相sǐ死share interests, die for each other
- tóng同lì力xié协qì契unite and make concerted efforts
- tóng同gōng功yī一tǐ体share same achievements and status
- tóng同mìng命yùn运gòng共hū呼xī吸share common destiny and interests
- tóng同chuí垂bù不xiǔ朽achieve immortal fame together
- tóng同táng堂xiōng兄dì弟paternal cousins
Questions about 同流合污
- What does 同流合污 mean?
- 同流合污 (tóng liú hé wū) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to go along with the evil current and defile oneself”.
- How do you pronounce 同流合污?
- 同流合污 is pronounced tóng liú hé wū in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 同流合污 literally mean?
- Literally, 同流合污 means “Flow with the same current, join in the defilement”. It is used to mean “to go along with the evil current and defile oneself”.
- Where does 同流合污 come from?
- 同流合污 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 同流合污?
- 流：流俗；污：肮脏。指跟坏人一起干坏事。