📖 Meaning
To respect the elderly and care for the young. It describes a virtuous attitude of honoring senior citizens and nurturing children with kindness, reflecting the Confucian ideal of benevolent social conduct.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Warring States period text Mencius: Gaozi II (《孟子·告子下》). Mencius advised that a virtuous ruler should respect the elderly, show compassion for the young, and never neglect guests and travelers. The phrase encapsulates the Confucian vision of benevolent governance and social harmony. Over the centuries it became a widely used expression praising those who uphold the traditional moral values of filial piety and compassion.
💡 Example Usage
这位村长一生敬老慈幼，深受村民爱戴。
The village chief respected the elderly and cared for the young all his life, and was deeply loved by the villagers.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 敬老慈幼
- Pinyin: jìng lǎo cí yòu
- Literal Translation: respect, old, love, young
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4