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富贵不能淫

富貴不能淫
fùguìbùnéngyín
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 not corrupted by wealth and status — unmoved from one's principles by riches
  2. 2 literally: wealth and status cannot (make one) licentious / excessive

Examples

他身居高位多年，富贵不能淫，一直保持廉洁。
Tā shēn jū gāo wèi duōnián, fùguì bù néng yín, yìzhí bǎochí liánjié.
In high office for many years, he has never been corrupted by wealth — he has stayed clean throughout.
要做到富贵不能淫、贫贱不能移，才是真正的君子。
Yào zuò dào fùguì bù néng yín, pínjiàn bù néng yí, cái shì zhēnzhèng de jūnzǐ.
Only one unmoved by wealth and by poverty alike is truly a gentleman.

Tips

history
From 《孟子·滕文公下》 (Mencius, Duke Teng Wen II). Mencius' definition of the 大丈夫 (true great person): 富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈 — '(One who is) not corrupted by wealth and status, not moved by poverty and humble station, not bent by force and power'. The three tests of character — the Confucian gold standard.
usage
Part of a famous triad — see also 贫贱不能移 and 威武不能屈. 淫 here means 'excess / corruption' (derailing from virtue), not the common modern sense of 'lewd'. This distinction is often flagged in classroom teaching.

Stroke Order

富 fù
贵 guì
不 bù
能 néng
淫 yín