📖 Meaning
A modest or unworthy gift. It was traditionally used as a humble, self-deprecating expression when presenting a gift to someone of respect. The phrase conveys courtesy and modesty rather than describing an actually poor gift.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase traces to the 'Zuo Zhuan' (Chronicle of Zuo), in the 33rd year of Duke Xi during the Spring and Autumn period. When the Lord of Qin learned that Jin's army would march through his territory, he humbly offered to provision the troops, describing his state as 'unworthy' (不腆) while promising daily supplies and overnight guards for the retinue. Over time the expression became a standard polite formula for presenting gifts in classical Chinese etiquette. The Ming dynasty novelist Feng Menglong later employed it in 'Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms' (Chapter 69).
💡 Example Usage
区区不腆之仪，还望先生笑纳。
Please accept this humble gift, sir.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不腆之仪
- Pinyin: bù tiǎn zhī yí
- Literal Translation: not, generous, of, gift
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4