贫贱骄人 — “Proud despite poverty”
贫贱骄人 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to act proudly and maintain one's dignity despite being poor and of humble status, often implying a disdain or refusal to humble oneself before the rich and powerful”. Literally, “Proud despite poverty”.
贫贱骄人 Pronunciation and Pinyin
贫贱骄人 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 贫贱骄人
Origin and Story of 贫贱骄人
During the Warring States period, Marquis Wen of Wei conquered the state of Zhongshan and dispatched his son, Prince Ji, to govern it.
On his journey, Prince Ji met Tian Zifang, who was a respected teacher of Marquis Wen. Prince Ji approached to greet him, but Tian Zifang paid him no attention.
Prince Ji then asked whether it was nobility and wealth or poverty and humility that truly deserved pride.
Tian Zifang asserted that one should be proud of being poor. He elaborated that if a feudal lord became arrogant, they risked losing their state, whereas if a humble scholar's counsel was not heeded, they could simply seek opportunity in another state.
Idioms Related to 贫贱骄人
Antonyms of 贫贱骄人
More idioms starting with 贫
- pín贫bù不xué学jiǎn俭Poverty compels frugality
- pín贫bù不xué学jiǎn俭，，fù富bù不xué学shē奢Poverty teaches frugality, wealth teaches extravagance
- pín贫ér儿pù曝fù富poor person flaunting wealth
- pín贫zuǐ嘴è恶shé舌sharp-tongued and unpleasant
- pín贫zuǐ嘴huá滑shé舌garrulous and sharp-tongued
- pín贫zuǐ嘴bó薄shé舌garrulous and sharp-tongued
- pín贫zuǐ嘴jiàn贱shé舌offensively talkative and sarcastic
- pín贫zuǐ嘴è饿shé舌excessively talkative and annoying
- pín贫kùn困liáo潦dǎo倒impoverished and dejected
- pín贫shì士shì市guā瓜judge people by outward appearance
- pín贫fù富bù不jūn均uneven distribution of wealth
- pín贫fù富xuán悬shū殊wide gap between rich and poor
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Open the tool →Questions about 贫贱骄人
What does 贫贱骄人 mean?
贫贱骄人 (pín jiàn jiāo rén) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to act proudly and maintain one's dignity despite being poor and of humble status, often implying a disdain or refusal to humble oneself before the rich and powerful”.
How do you pronounce 贫贱骄人?
贫贱骄人 is pronounced pín jiàn jiāo rén in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 贫贱骄人 literally mean?
Literally, 贫贱骄人 means “Proud despite poverty”. It is used to mean “to act proudly and maintain one's dignity despite being poor and of humble status, often implying a disdain or refusal to humble oneself before the rich and powerful”.
Where does 贫贱骄人 come from?
贫贱骄人 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 贫贱骄人?
身处贫贱，但很自豪。指贫贱的人蔑视权贵。