📖 Meaning
Not being constrained by trivial matters or petty rules. It describes someone who is broad-minded and does not fuss over minor details, especially in daily life. Often used positively to indicate a generous and unconstrained personality.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the 'Book of Later Han' (后汉书), in the biography of Yu Yan (虞延). Yu Yan was described as having a simple and honest nature, not bound by petty conventions. During the Eastern Han period, he served as an official known for his straightforwardness and integrity, disregarding trivial formalities. The expression later became widely used to describe people of open and magnanimous character.
💡 Example Usage
他为人豁达大度，不拘小节，深受朋友们的喜爱。
He is open-minded and does not fuss over trivial matters, and is deeply loved by his friends.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不拘小节
- Pinyin: bù jū xiǎo jié
- Literal Translation: not, stick to, small, details
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4