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富贵不能淫

富貴不能淫
fùguì bùnéng yín
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 gāowèi duōnián, fùguì bùnéng 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 zuòdào fùguì bùnéng yín, pínjiànbùnéngyí, 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