📖 Meaning
To accept and absorb things of different types or natures without discrimination. It advocates being inclusive and open-minded, embracing diverse viewpoints, cultures, or elements rather than rejecting what differs from one's own. It is synonymous with 兼收并蓄.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase is a variation of the older expression 兼收并蓄, which originates from the Tang dynasty scholar Han Yu's essay 'Jin Xue Jie' (进学解), where he praised a ruler's ability to gather and preserve all kinds of talents and knowledge. Over time, 兼容并蓄 emerged as a parallel formulation emphasizing both tolerance (容) and preservation (蓄). It reflects a philosophical ideal of inclusiveness found throughout Chinese intellectual tradition.
💡 Example Usage
这座城市文化包容，兼容并蓄，形成了独特的多元风貌。
This city embraces diverse cultures inclusively, forming a uniquely multicultural character.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 兼容并蓄
- Pinyin: jiān róng bìng xù
- Literal Translation: hold both, accommodate, together, store
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4