大义灭亲

大義滅親

dàyì-mièqīn

idiom #52,451

Meanings

HSK 4

这件事需要大义灭亲的勇气。

Zhè jiàn shì xūyào dàyì-mièqīn de yǒngqì.

This case requires the courage to put principle before kin.

HSK 7-9

他大义灭亲，亲手把儿子送进了监狱。

Tā dàyì-mièqīn, qīnshǒu bǎ érzi sòng jìn le jiānyù.

Putting justice before family, he personally sent his son to prison.

history

From 《左传·隐公四年》, praising 石碏 (Shí Què) for killing his own son, who had helped murder a ruler. The original phrasing ended 大义灭亲，其是之谓乎.

大 dà

义 yì

灭 miè

亲 qīn