小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市

小隱隱於林，大隱隱於市

xiǎoyǐn yǐn yú lín, dàyǐn yǐn yú shì

proverb

Meanings

1 the lesser hermit hides in the woods; the greater hermit hides in the city
2 true detachment is keeping inner peace amid worldly bustle

Characters

to hide; hermit

Examples

HSK 7-9

他虽然每天上下班，但心境平和，正所谓小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市。

Tā suīrán měitiān shàngxiàbān, dàn xīnjìng pínghé, zhèng suǒwèi xiǎo yǐnyǐn yú lín, dà yǐnyǐn yú shì.

Though he commutes to work every day, his heart is calm - as the saying goes, the greater hermit hides in the city.

HSK 7-9

古人云：小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市，真正的修行不在山林。

Gǔrén yún: xiǎo yǐnyǐn yú lín, dà yǐnyǐn yú shì, zhēnzhèng de xiūxíng bù zài shānlín.

The ancients said: the small hermit hides in the woods, the great hermit hides in the city; real cultivation is not in the mountains.

Tips

history

From 王康琚's 《反招隐诗》 (Eastern Jin dynasty, 4th c.): 'Small hermits hide in the wilds, great hermits hide in court and market.' The point: physical isolation is easy; staying detached while engaged with society is the real test.

culture

A favorite line of Chinese intellectuals who can't (or don't want to) drop out, used to dignify the choice to stay in the city while keeping a quiet inner life. A variant 小隐隐于野 ('wild') is also common.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

隐 yǐn

于 yú

林 lín

大 dà

市 shì