📖 Meaning
Describes someone who acts in a rough and rash manner, doing things carelessly and without taking responsibility. It connotes a lack of thoroughness and prudence in both action and conduct.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Zhuangzi (《庄子·则阳》), a Daoist text from the Warring States period attributed to Zhuang Zhou. In the original passage, a figure warns a ruler: 'In governing, do not be rash (卤莽); in managing the people, do not be careless (灭裂).' The two terms were later combined into the four-character idiom 鲁莽灭裂 (with 卤莽 written as 鲁莽). The passage critiques hasty, negligent governance, advising rulers to act with care and restraint.
💡 Example Usage
他做事鲁莽灭裂，常常造成不可挽回的损失。
He acts in a rash and careless manner, often causing irreversible losses.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 鲁莽灭裂
- Pinyin: lǔ mǎng miè liè
- Literal Translation: rash, reckless, extinguish, crack
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4