📖 Meaning
To close the door and read books at home, originally referring to studying alone without exchanging ideas with others. It now also describes someone who devotes themselves entirely to studying in isolation.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from 'Yanshi Jiaxun' (Family Instructions of Master Yan) by Yan Zhitui of the Northern Qi dynasty. In the chapter on 'Encouraging Learning,' Yan criticized those who shut their doors to study alone, relying solely on their own judgment rather than discussing with others. He argued that such solitary study leads to errors when one appears in public gatherings, emphasizing the importance of mutual discussion and correction in learning.
💡 Example Usage
他闭门读书三年，终于考上了理想的大学。
He shut himself away and studied behind closed doors for three years, and finally got into his dream university.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 闭门读书
- Pinyin: bì mén dú shū
- Literal Translation: close, door, read, book
- Category: Learning
- Characters: 4