贫贱不能移

貧賤不能移

pínjiànbùnéngyí

idiom

Meanings

1 not shaken by poverty - keeping one's principles and ambitions even in humble circumstances
2 literally: poverty and lowliness cannot move (one)

Characters

humble / low-status

to move / shift

Examples

HSK 7-9

他家境贫寒，但贫贱不能移，坚持完成学业。

Tā jiājìng pínhán, dàn pínjiànbùnéngyí, jiānchí wánchéng xuéyè.

His family was poor, but poverty could not shake him - he persevered and finished his studies.

HSK 7-9

真正的风骨是富贵不能淫、贫贱不能移、威武不能屈。

Zhēnzhèng de fēnggǔ shì fùguìbùnéngyín, pínjiànbùnéngyí, wēiwǔbùnéngqū.

True backbone is: uncorrupted by wealth, unshaken by poverty, unbent by force.

Tips

history

From 《孟子·滕文公下》 (Mencius, Duke Teng Wen II). Mencius' definition of the 大丈夫 (great person): 富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈 - 'not corrupted by wealth and status, not moved by poverty and humble station, not bent by force and power'. The middle term of the triad - the test of hardship.

usage

Part of the canonical Mencian triad - see also 富贵不能淫 and 威武不能屈. Used in praise of people who stay on course through financial or social hardship; common in biography, tribute writing, and educational contexts.

Stroke Order

贫 pín

贱 jiàn

不 bù

能 néng

移 yí