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两袖清风

兩袖清風
liǎngxiùqīngfēng
idiom #54,724

Meanings

  1. 1 with only a fresh breeze in one's sleeves
  2. 2 (of an official) honest and incorruptible
  3. 3 having clean hands; possessing nothing

Examples

他做了一辈子官，退休时两袖清风。
Tā zuò le yībèizi guān, tuìxiū shí liǎngxiùqīngfēng.
He served as an official his whole life and retired with nothing but clean hands.
这位老县长以两袖清风闻名乡里。
Zhè wèi lǎo xiànzhǎng yǐ liǎngxiùqīngfēng wénmíng xiānglǐ.
The old county chief was famous in the village for his incorruptibility.
我虽然两袖清风，但活得心安理得。
Wǒ suīrán liǎngxiùqīngfēng, dàn huó de xīn'ānlǐdé.
I may have nothing in my pockets, but I live with a clear conscience.

Tips

culture
The image comes from old-style robes with wide sleeves used as pockets — empty sleeves billow with only the wind, signaling no stolen silver inside.
history
From the Yuan-dynasty poet 陈基's poem 《次韵吴江道中》: 两袖清风身欲飘，杖藜随月步长桥 — sleeves so light with breeze, the body almost floats.

Stroke Order

两 liǎng
袖 xiù
清 qīng
风 fēng