抱不平

bàobùpíng

idiom #57,662

Meanings

Tā zǒng ài tì péngyǒu bàobùpíng.

He's always quick to stand up for his friends when they're wronged.

Kàndào lǎorén bèi qīfu, lùrén fēnfēn bàobùpíng.

Seeing the old man being bullied, passers-by spoke out in his defense.

Wǒ zhǐshì tì tā dǎ bàobùpíng éryǐ.

I was only speaking up for her against the unfairness.

usage

Almost always appears with 替 or 为 + person, and very often with the verb 打: 打抱不平 'to come to someone's defense.'

history

Popularized by 《红楼梦》第45回: '气的我只有替平儿打抱不平' — Xifeng's servants rally for the mistreated Ping'er.

抱 bào

不 bù

平 píng