劫富济贫

劫富濟貧

jiéfù-jìpín

idiom #39,907

Meanings

1 to rob from the rich and give to the poor
2 Robin Hood-style banditry

Characters

rob, seize by force

Examples

梁山好汉以劫富济贫著称。

Liáng shān hǎohàn yǐ jiéfùjìpín zhùchēng.

The heroes of Liangshan are famous for robbing the rich to help the poor.

他自封是劫富济贫的侠盗。

Tā zìfēng shì jiéfùjìpín de xiádào.

He styles himself a Robin Hood who robs the rich to aid the poor.

Tips

culture

Classic motif in Chinese martial fiction (武侠小说), associated with outlaw heroes like the Liangshan brothers in 《水浒传》 and with Robin Hood in Western parallels.

In Pop Culture

水浒传 Shuǐhǔzhuàn

Water Margin

The 14th-century novel whose 108 outlaws embody the 劫富济贫 ethos.

Stroke Order

劫 jié

富 fù

济 jì

贫 pín