可以濯吾缨

可以濯吾纓

kěyǐzhuówúyīng

phrase

Meanings

1 it is fit to wash the tassels of my hat
2 (fig.) when the world is pure, one may take office honorably; a symbol of clean engagement versus retreat
3 (lit.) may use wash my hat-tassel

Characters

use / by means of (可以 = may)

hat-tassel / chinstrap

Examples

沧浪之水清兮，可以濯吾缨；沧浪之水浊兮，可以濯吾足。

Cānglàng zhī shuǐ qīng xī, kěyǐ zhuó wú yīng; Cānglàng zhī shuǐ zhuó xī, kěyǐ zhuó wú zú.

'When the waters of Canglang are clear, I may wash my hat-tassels; when the waters of Canglang are muddy, I may wash my feet.'

时局清明，君子可以濯吾缨；时局昏乱，则隐居自守。

Shíjú qīngmíng, jūnzǐ kěyǐ zhuó wú yīng; shíjú hūnluàn, zé yǐnjū zìshǒu.

In clear times, the gentleman may 'wash his hat-tassels' (take office); in chaos, he retreats and keeps to himself.

Tips

history

From 《楚辞·渔父》(Chuci, 'The Fisherman,' attributed traditionally to 屈原 Qu Yuan or his circle, 3rd c. BCE). After Qu Yuan laments his exile, the fisherman sings and rows off: 沧浪之水清兮，可以濯吾缨；沧浪之水浊兮，可以濯吾足 (When the waters of Canglang are clear, I may wash my hat-strings; when muddy, I may wash my feet). Also quoted by Confucius in 《孟子·离娄上》, treating it as the principle that the world decides whether honor is possible. 缨 = the chinstrap tassel of an official's hat, symbol of office.

usage

Always sung/read paired with 可以濯吾足 — the pair is the whole point (pure world → official service; muddy world → private life). 濯 = zhuó (2nd tone) = to wash. 吾 is the classical 'my.'

Stroke Order

可 kě

以 yǐ

濯 zhuó

吾 wú

缨 yīng