位卑未敢忘忧国

位卑未敢忘憂國

wèibēiwèigǎnwàngyōuguó

phrase

Meanings

1 humble in rank, I dare not forget to worry about my country
2 lowly though my position is, I never dare forget the nation's troubles

Characters

Examples

位卑未敢忘忧国，是许多知识分子的情怀。

Wèi bēi wèi gǎn wàng yōu guó, shì xǔduō zhīshi fènzǐ de qínghuái.

‘Humble in rank, yet not daring to forget the nation’ is the sentiment of many intellectuals.

他虽是普通工人，却位卑未敢忘忧国。

Tā suī shì pǔtōng gōngrén, què wèi bēi wèi gǎn wàng yōu guó.

Though he's an ordinary worker, he's humble in rank yet never forgets the country.

Tips

history

From Lu You 陆游's Southern Song poem 《病起书怀》: ‘位卑未敢忘忧国，事定犹须待阖棺。’ (Lowly though I am, I dare not forget to worry for the nation; judgment on a man must wait until his coffin is closed.) Lu You was a lifelong advocate of resisting the Jurchen Jin and reclaiming the north.

usage

Often quoted on its own as an expression of civic conscience regardless of status. 位卑 = of low rank; 未敢 = not dare.

Stroke Order

位 wèi

卑 bēi

未 wèi

敢 gǎn

忘 wàng

忧 yōu

国 guó