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威武不能屈

wēiwǔbùnéngqū
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 not to be cowed by force / threats - unbending in the face of power and intimidation
  2. 2 literally: (by) might and force, cannot be made to bend

Examples

HSK 7-9
真正的士人富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。
Zhēnzhèng de shìrén fùguìbùnéngyín, pínjiànbùnéngyí, wēiwǔbùnéngqū.
A true scholar is not corrupted by wealth, not shaken by poverty, not cowed by force.
HSK 7-9
面对恐吓，他威武不能屈，坚持说出真相。
Miànduì kǒnghè, tā wēiwǔbùnéngqū, jiānchí shuō chū zhēnxiàng.
In the face of intimidation, he refused to bend, insisting on telling the truth.

Tips

history
From 孟子·滕文公下 (Mencius, Duke Teng Wen II). Mencius' definition of the true 大丈夫 (great person): 富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈 - '(One who is) not corrupted by wealth and status, not moved by poverty and humble station, not bent by force and power'. The three clauses are almost always quoted together.
usage
One of a famous triad - also see 富贵不能淫 and 贫贱不能移 in this dictionary. Used to praise people of moral backbone: whistleblowers, dissenting judges, lone-voice journalists. Classical register, very common in editorial writing.

Stroke Order

威 wēi
武 wǔ
不 bù
能 néng
屈 qū