不强人所难

不強人所難

bùqiǎngrénsuǒnán

idiom

Meanings

1 not to force others to do what they find difficult
2 not to impose on others
3 (lit.) not compel people in what they find hard

Characters

to force / compel

that which (nominalizer)

Examples

你不愿意就算了，我不强人所难。

Nǐ bù yuànyì jiù suàn le, wǒ bù qiǎng rén suǒ nán.

If you don't want to, forget it — I won't force anyone.

做领导要懂得不强人所难，才能留住人才。

Zuò lǐngdǎo yào dǒngdé bù qiǎng rén suǒ nán, cáinéng liúzhù réncái.

A good leader must know not to impose on people — that's how you keep talent.

Tips

history

Rooted in Confucian ethics. 《论语·卫灵公》 has 己所不欲，勿施于人 (Do not impose on others what you yourself do not want), and 《礼记》 warns 君子不强人以其所不能 (A gentleman does not press others beyond their ability). The four-character form 不强人所难 crystallized in later usage as a standard polite formula.

usage

强 here is read qiǎng (3rd tone, 'to force'), not qiáng ('strong'). Often used self-deprecatingly ('I won't push you') or as social advice.

Stroke Order

不 bù

强 qiáng

人 rén

所 suǒ

难 nán