以死明志

yǐsǐmíngzhì

idiom

Meanings

1 to demonstrate one's resolve by dying
2 to prove one's principles by self-sacrifice

Characters

Examples

屈原投江以死明志。

Qū Yuán tóu jiāng yǐ sǐ míng zhì.

Qu Yuan threw himself into the river to demonstrate his loyalty by death.

他不愿屈服，最终选择以死明志。

Tā bù yuàn qūfú, zuìzhōng xuǎnzé yǐ sǐ míng zhì.

Refusing to submit, he finally chose to prove his convictions through death.

Tips

culture

The classic Chinese paragon is the poet-statesman 屈原 (Qū Yuán, c. 340–278 BCE), who drowned himself in the Miluo River after his loyal advice was rejected. The Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 commemorates his suicide. The phrase carries a tone of tragic moral integrity rather than mere despair — it is not used for ordinary suicide.

Stroke Order

以 yǐ

死 sǐ

明 míng

志 zhì