📖 Meaning
To hate the upright and despise the righteous. It describes those who resent and persecute honest, principled people who speak the truth. The phrase criticizes corrupt individuals who cannot tolerate integrity and moral courage in others.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from a Han dynasty inscription by the scholar Cai Yong (蔡邕) titled 'Stele of Grand Commandant Li Gong of Runan' (《太尉汝南李公碑》). The inscription recounts how Li Gong, upon being appointed Inspector of Xuzhou, brought such strict discipline that all officials were awed into order, and corrupt figures who hated the upright and despised the righteous were swept away. Over time, the phrase came to denote the attitude of resenting and harming honest, straightforward people.
💡 Example Usage
历代奸臣多恶直丑正，最终难逃身败名裂的下场。
Throughout history, treacherous officials who hated the upright and despised the righteous ultimately met with disgrace and ruin.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 恶直丑正
- Pinyin: è zhí chǒu zhèng
- Literal Translation: hate, upright, despise, righteous
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4