距人千里 | keep people at a great distance

jù距rén人qiān千lǐ里

To keep people at a great distance; to be extremely aloof, haughty, and unapproachable, often implying an unwillingness to engage or compromise.

尽管她才华横溢，但总是给人一种距人千里的感觉，让同事们难以亲近。

Although she is highly talented, she always gives people the impression of keeping them at a thousand li's distance, making it difficult for colleagues to get close to her.

Era:

Ancient

Frequency:

Synonym:

拒人千里

Story:

During the Warring States period, Duke Ping of Lu intended to appoint Le Zhengzi, a disciple of Mencius, to administer the state. Mencius was overjoyed.

Gongsun Chou asked Mencius if Le Zhengzi was truly capable. Mencius replied that in terms of ability, knowledge, and experience, Le Zhengzi was not superior to Gongsun Chou.

However, his strong point was his excellent treatment of people; he would not 'keep people at a thousand li's distance' (拒人于千里之外). Many people gathered around him, which would enable him to govern the state well.

This idiom describes someone who is extremely aloof and unapproachable, often due to arrogance or unwillingness to engage, contrasting with Le Zhengzi's approachable nature.

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