📖 Meaning
To not hold grudges or dwell on past wrongs committed against oneself. It describes a magnanimous attitude of forgiving old enmities and moving forward without resentment. The phrase emphasizes generosity of spirit and the wisdom of letting bygones be bygones.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Analects (论语·公冶长), where Confucius praised Bo Yi and Shu Qi, two righteous figures of the late Shang Dynasty. The brothers famously refused to eat the grain of the Zhou Dynasty after King Wu overthrew Shang, choosing to starve on Mount Shouyang rather than serve a ruler who had rebelled against their sovereign. Confucius noted that they did not dwell on old grievances, and as a result, few people bore resentment toward them. The story became a model of moral magnanimity and forgiveness in Chinese culture.
💡 Example Usage
他为人宽厚，不念旧恶，与曾经得罪过他的人也相处融洽。
He is broad-minded and never dwells on old grievances, getting along well even with those who once offended him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不念旧恶
- Pinyin: bù niàn jiù è
- Literal Translation: not, remember, old, grievance
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4