居庙堂之高

居廟堂之高

Jū miàotáng zhī gāo

quotation

Meanings

1 to occupy a high place in the imperial court
2 to hold high office at court (contrasted with 处江湖之远, being in the provinces)

Characters

's (classical 的)

high (position)

Examples

HSK 5

无论居庙堂之高还是处江湖之远，他都心系国家。

Wúlùn jūmiàotángzhīgāo háishì chǔ jiānghú zhī yuǎn, tā dōu xīn xì guójiā.

Whether at court or out in the provinces, his heart is always with the nation.

HSK 7-9

居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君。

Jūmiàotángzhīgāo zé yōu qí mín, chǔ jiānghú zhī yuǎn zé yōu qí jūn.

When holding high court office, worry about the people; when far out in the provinces, worry about the sovereign.

Tips

history

From Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹 of the 岳阳楼记 (Northern Song): '居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君。' (High at court, worry about the people; far in the wilds, worry about the ruler.) The essay's other iconic line is 先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐.

usage

庙堂 = the imperial ancestral temple / court, i.e. high government. Always quoted with its parallel clause 处江湖之远.

Stroke Order

居 jū

庙 miào

堂 táng

之 zhī

高 gāo