明哲保身

míngzhébǎoshēn

idiom #44,379

Meanings

1 to play it safe and protect oneself
2 a wise man keeps out of trouble
3 (often pejorative) to prioritize self-preservation over principle

Characters

Examples

在官场上，很多人选择明哲保身。

Zài guānchǎng shàng, hěn duō rén xuǎnzé míngzhé bǎoshēn.

In officialdom, many choose the safe, self-preserving path.

面对不公，他选择明哲保身，没有站出来。

Miànduì bùgōng, tā xuǎnzé míngzhé bǎoshēn, méiyǒu zhàn chūlái.

Faced with injustice, he played it safe and didn't speak up.

Tips

history

From 《诗经·大雅·烝民》 — '明且哲, 以保其身' described the wise minister who stayed clear-headed to serve his lord. Modern Chinese has narrowed the sense toward cowardly self-preservation.

Stroke Order

明 míng

哲 zhé

保 bǎo

身 shēn