📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to the act of ruining or corrupting good social customs and moral standards. It describes behavior that undermines societal norms and ethical values, leading to the deterioration of public decency. The phrase is often used to condemn vulgar, immoral, or socially harmful conduct.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Book of Jin' (《晋书》), in the 'Biography of Liu Yi' (刘毅传). Liu Yi was an upright official of the Western Jin Dynasty known for his outspoken criticism of corruption and moral decay. In a memorial to the throne, he denounced certain practices as '毁风败俗,' arguing that such behavior was harmful to moral education and social transformation. He declared that throughout history, no greater failing existed than actions that corrupt public customs and degrade societal values.
💡 Example Usage
这种低俗的表演实在毁风败俗，必须加以制止。
This kind of vulgar performance truly corrupts social morals and must be stopped.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 毁风败俗
- Pinyin: huǐ fēng bài sú
- Literal Translation: destroy, customs, corrupt, conventions
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4