📖 Meaning
To lower one's aspirations and demean one's own status, typically by compromising principles to mingle with the common world. It describes someone who sacrifices personal integrity or dignity for worldly gain or survival.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Analects of Confucius (《论语·微子》), where Confucius comments on the figures Liuxia Hui (柳下惠) and Shao Lian (少连). Confucius notes that these two men lowered their ambitions and accepted humiliation to their persons, implying they compromised their principles to coexist with a corrupt society. The remark became a lasting critique of those who abandon moral standards for worldly accommodation.
💡 Example Usage
他为了蝇头小利竟降志辱身，与那帮贪官同流合污，实在令人不齿。
For the sake of petty gain he lowered his aspirations and demeaned himself, colluding with those corrupt officials—a truly despicable act.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 降志辱身
- Pinyin: jiàng zhì rǔ shēn
- Literal Translation: lower, will, humiliate, body
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4