小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市

小隱隱於林，大隱隱於市

xiǎoyǐnyǐnyúlín,dàyǐnyǐnyúshì

idiom

Meanings

1 the lesser hermit hides in the woods; the greater hermit hides in the city
2 true detachment is keeping inner peace amid worldly bustle

Characters

to hide; hermit

Examples

他虽然每天上下班，但心境平和，正所谓小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市。

Tā suīrán měitiān shàngxiàbān, dàn xīnjìng pínghé, zhèng suǒwèi xiǎoyǐn yǐn yú lín, dàyǐn yǐn yú shì.

Though he commutes to work every day, his heart is calm — as the saying goes, the greater hermit hides in the city.

古人云：小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市，真正的修行不在山林。

Gǔrén yún: xiǎoyǐn yǐn yú lín, dàyǐn yǐn yú shì, zhēnzhèng de xiūxíng bù zài shānlín.

The ancients said: the small hermit hides in the woods, the great hermit hides in the city; real cultivation is not in the mountains.

Tips

history

From 王康琚's 《反招隐诗》 (Eastern Jin dynasty, 4th c.): 'Small hermits hide in the wilds, great hermits hide in court and market.' The point: physical isolation is easy; staying detached while engaged with society is the real test.

culture

A favorite line of Chinese intellectuals who can't (or don't want to) drop out — used to dignify the choice to stay in the city while keeping a quiet inner life. A variant 小隐隐于野 (yě, 'wild') is also common.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

隐 yǐn

于 yú

林 lín

大 dà

市 shì