饮马投钱 — “To be scrupulously honest and incorruptible”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 饮马投钱?

比喻为人廉洁，不损公肥私。

饮马投钱 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be scrupulously honest and incorruptible”. Refusing to take advantage of public resources for personal gain.

Frequency

饮马投钱 Pronunciation and Pinyin

饮马投钱 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
饮	yǐn	7	to drink
马	mǎ	3	horse, big, large
投	tóu	7	throw, cast, or invest
钱	qián	10	money, currency, wealth

Example Sentence with 饮马投钱

这位老先生一生正直，饮马投钱，从不接受任何馈赠。

This old gentleman lived an upright life, always demonstrating scrupulous honesty and refusing to accept any gifts.

Origin and Story of 饮马投钱

During the Han Dynasty, there was an exceedingly honest and incorruptible official named Xiang Zhongshan from Anling. His integrity was so profound it almost seemed peculiar.

Whenever he watered his horses at the Wei River, he would invariably toss three copper coins into the water. This act was meant to demonstrate his steadfast refusal to take even the slightest advantage or benefit from public resources.