📖 Meaning
To flatter and cater to bad people while encouraging and abetting their wrongdoing. It describes someone who panders to evildoers and actively helps perpetuate bad deeds rather than stopping them.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'History of Ming' (明史), in the biography of Zhang Wenming (张文明传). The text criticizes Jiang Bin (江彬), a powerful and corrupt official during the Ming Dynasty, accusing him of catering to evil and abetting wrongdoing, and arguing he should be executed without delay. It also condemns court officials for failing to correct or remonstrate against the situation, suggesting they too deserved punishment. Jiang Bin was a notorious favorite of Emperor Zhengde who abused his power and was eventually executed after the emperor's death.
💡 Example Usage
那些逢恶导非的小人，最终必将受到法律的严惩。
Those petty men who cater to evildoers and abet their misdeeds will ultimately face severe punishment under the law.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 逢恶导非
- Pinyin: féng è dǎo fēi
- Literal Translation: meet evil, guide wrong
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4