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小人同而不和

xiǎoréntóngérbùhé
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 the petty man conforms but does not harmonize
  2. 2 (fig.) small-minded people cluster in uniformity, but never in genuine accord
  3. 3 (lit.) small-person same but not harmonize

Examples

孔子说小人同而不和，讽刺那些表面合群实则无信的人。
Kǒngzǐ shuō xiǎorén tóng ér bù hé, fěngcì nàxiē biǎomiàn héqún shízé wú xìn de rén.
Confucius said 'the petty man conforms but does not harmonize' — rebuking those who look agreeable but lack trustworthiness.
团队表面一致，其实小人同而不和，迟早要散。
Tuánduì biǎomiàn yīzhì, qíshí xiǎorén tóng ér bù hé, chízǎo yào sàn.
The team looks unified but is actually 'petty men conforming without harmony' — sure to fall apart.

Tips

history
From 《论语·子路》(Analects, Book 13, Confucius): 君子和而不同，小人同而不和 (The gentleman harmonizes but does not conform; the petty man conforms but does not harmonize). 和 (harmony) and 同 (sameness) are sharply distinguished in Confucian thought — 和 tolerates diversity within shared principle, while 同 enforces surface uniformity without inner agreement. One of the foundational Analects couplets on social ethics.
usage
Always paired and contrasted with 君子和而不同. The pair is regularly cited in modern editorials on groupthink, corporate culture, and political factions. 和而不同 has become a signature phrase of Chinese diplomatic rhetoric.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo
人 rén
同 tóng
而 ér
不 bù
和 hé