📖 Meaning
To barely preserve one's life, scraping by to survive in chaotic or difficult times. It conveys a humble, self-effacing attitude of seeking mere survival rather than fame or distinction.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the famous memorial 'Chu Shi Biao' (出师表) written by Zhuge Liang of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. In this memorial presented to Emperor Liu Shan before launching a military campaign, Zhuge Liang reflected that during the turbulent years he had only sought to preserve his life in a chaotic world, without aspiring to fame or recognition among the warlords. The line embodies his humility and sense of duty before taking on the heavy burden of state affairs.
💡 Example Usage
在战火纷飞的年代，百姓只愿苟全性命于乡野之间。
In those war-torn years, the common folk merely wished to scrape by and preserve their lives in the countryside.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 苟全性命
- Pinyin: gǒu quán xìng mìng
- Literal Translation: gou, perfunctorily; quan, preserve; xing ming, life
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4