富贵不能淫

富貴不能淫

fùguì bùnéng yín

idiom

Meanings

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

Characters

excessive / lead astray

Examples

HSK 7-9

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.

HSK 7-9

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, pínjiàn bùnéng yí, cái shì zhēnzhèng de jūnzǐ.

Only one unmoved by wealth and by poverty alike is truly a gentleman.

Tips

history

From 孟子 (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 - 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