虽千万人吾往矣

雖千萬人吾往矣

suī qiānwàn rén wú wǎng yǐ

quotation

Meanings

1 though ten thousand stand against me, I will go forward
2 even if a multitude opposes me, I shall still advance (lone moral courage)

Characters

although, even if

classical emphatic final particle

Examples

HSK 7-9

面对质疑，他自反而缩，虽千万人吾往矣。

Miànduì zhíyí, tā zìfǎn ér suō, suī qiānwàn rén wú wǎng yǐ.

Facing doubt, he examined himself and found he was right - 'though ten thousand stand against me, I go forward.'

HSK 7-9

做正确的事就要有虽千万人吾往矣的气概。

Zuò zhèngquè de shì jiù yào yǒu suī qiānwàn rén wú wǎng yǐ de qìgài.

Doing the right thing requires the courage of 'though ten thousand stand against me, I go forward.'

Tips

history

From Mencius 《孟子·公孙丑上》: 自反而缩，虽千万人吾往矣. (If on self-examination I find I am in the right, though ten thousand men stand against me, I shall still go forward.) Mencius's statement of moral bravery. 李小龙 and many martial-arts writers later borrowed the line.

usage

吾 = 'I' (classical); 矣 = sentence-final emphatic particle. Often preceded in quotation by 自反而缩 ('if on self-examination I am in the right') to preserve the moral premise.

Stroke Order

虽 suī

千 qiān

万 wàn

人 rén

吾 wú

往 wǎng

矣 yǐ