📖 Meaning
Describes a state where one harbors no deceit or ulterior motives, so even wild creatures feel at ease drawing near. It metaphorically evokes a life of tranquil seclusion, free from worldly scheming and ambition.
📜 Origin Story
From 'Liezi: Yellow Emperor' (《列子·黄帝》), a text attributed to Liezi of the pre-Qin period. It tells of a man who loved seabirds and went to the shore each morning; hundreds of gulls would come play around him. His father asked him to catch one to play with. The next day, when the man went to the sea harboring that secret intention, the gulls only danced in the air and would not land. The tale gave rise to the idiom, symbolizing how sincere, motiveless hearts attract even wild beings, while hidden scheming drives them away.
💡 Example Usage
他隐居山林，鸥鹭忘机，早已不问世俗纷争。
Living in seclusion in the mountains, he had forgotten all worldly cunning, long past caring about worldly strife.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 鸥鹭忘机
- Pinyin: ōu lù wàng jī
- Literal Translation: gulls, herons, forget, cunning
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4