死而不朽 — “To die but not perish”
死而不朽 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to die but not perish”. Referring to a person whose influence, achievements, or words live on and are remembered long after their death. Literally, “To die and not decay/perish”.
死而不朽 Pronunciation and Pinyin
死而不朽 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 死而不朽
Origin and Story of 死而不朽
In 549 BC, Mu Shu, a high official from the State of Lu, was dispatched on a diplomatic mission to the State of Jin. Fan Xuanzi, a minister of Jin, asked him what the meaning of 'si er bu xiu' (死而不朽) was. Mu Shu did not answer. Fan Xuanzi then stated that his ancestors had been prominent nobles in various dynasties, and that this was 'si er bu xiu'.
Mu Shu, however, believed that only excellent virtue, great achievements, and wise words could truly achieve 'si er bu xiu'.
Idioms Related to 死而不朽
Synonyms of 死而不朽
More idioms starting with 死
- sǐ死bù不huí回tóu头stubbornly refuse to change
- sǐ死bù不kāi开kǒu口refuse to speak or reveal information
- sǐ死bù不huǐ悔gǎi改stubbornly refuse to repent
- sǐ死bù不gǎi改huǐ悔unrepentant until death
- sǐ死bù不xuán旋zhǒng踵Advance with unwavering resolve unto death
- sǐ死bù不sǐ死，，huó活bù不huó活caught in an agonizing dilemma
- sǐ死bù不gān甘xīn心unwilling to accept defeat until death
- sǐ死bù不míng瞑mù目die with everlasting regret
- sǐ死bù不yào要liǎn脸utterly shameless
- sǐ死bù不zú足xī惜death not worth regretting
- sǐ死bù不bì闭mù目die with unfulfilled wishes
- sǐ死qiě且bù不xiǔ朽to be remembered forever
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Open the tool →Questions about 死而不朽
What does 死而不朽 mean?
死而不朽 (sǐ ér bù xiǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to die but not perish”.
How do you pronounce 死而不朽?
死而不朽 is pronounced sǐ ér bù xiǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 死而不朽 literally mean?
Literally, 死而不朽 means “to die and not decay/perish”. It is used to mean “to die but not perish”.
Where does 死而不朽 come from?
死而不朽 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 死而不朽?
指身虽死而言论、事业等长存。