📖 Meaning
"母难之日" literally means "the day of the mother's hardship." It refers to one's birthday, reminding us that the day we were born was a day of great pain and danger for our mother. The idiom encourages gratitude and filial piety rather than self-centered celebration.
📜 Origin Story
The concept stems from traditional Chinese filial piety (孝), rooted in Confucian values. In ancient times, childbirth was extremely perilous, so a person's birthday was regarded not as a day for self-celebration but as a day to honor the mother who endured suffering to bring them into the world. Classical texts and folk tradition emphasized that one should feel indebted to one's parents on this day rather than rejoicing selfishly. The phrase reflects the deep cultural importance placed on repaying parental love and remembering one's origins.
💡 Example Usage
每逢母难之日，他都不忘给母亲打个电话表达感恩。
On each of his birthdays, he never forgets to call his mother to express his gratitude.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 母难之日
- Pinyin: mǔ nán zhī rì
- Literal Translation: mother, difficulty, 's, day
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4