拾金不昧

shíjīnbùmèi

idiom #92,817

Meanings

1 to pick up money and not keep it (idiom)
2 to return lost property to its owner
3 honesty with found valuables

Characters

to conceal; hide

Examples

这个小学生拾金不昧，受到老师表扬。

Zhège xiǎoxuéshēng shíjīnbùmèi, shòudào lǎoshī biǎoyáng.

This elementary student returned the money he found and was praised by the teacher.

他拾金不昧的品质值得我们学习。

Tā shíjīnbùmèi de pǐnzhì zhíde wǒmen xuéxí.

His integrity in returning lost property is worth learning from.

司机拾金不昧，把钱包还给了失主。

Sījī shíjīnbùmèi, bǎ qiánbāo huán gěi le shīzhǔ.

The driver honestly returned the wallet to its owner.

Tips

history

From the Qing-dynasty story collection 《客窗闲话·义丐》 by Wu Chichang: a righteous beggar returned found gold and the locals hung a plaque inscribed 拾金不昧 above his shop. The phrase became a standard honor bestowed on citizens who return lost valuables — still used on police certificates today.

culture

In modern China, schools, police, and taxi companies still formally issue 拾金不昧 certificates (拾金不昧证书) to honor honest finders. It is a cornerstone virtue in moral education for children.

Stroke Order

拾 shí

金 jīn

不 bù

昧 mèi