📖 Meaning
To hold something firmly and sincerely in one's heart, never letting it go. It describes a deep, earnest commitment to remembering and treasuring a principle or teaching. The idiom conveys heartfelt devotion and unwavering adherence to what one has learned.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Confucian classic 'The Doctrine of the Mean' (《礼记·中庸》), one of the Four Books of Confucianism. The text states that when one acquires a single good principle, one should 'clutch it tightly to the chest and never lose it' (得一善，则拳拳服膺而弗失之矣). The phrase was later cited by the Tang dynasty scholar Han Yu (韩愈) in his essay 'Di Xia Yi' (《禘祫议》), where he praised Yan Hui (颜回), Confucius's most beloved disciple, for embodying this very attitude — choosing the Middle Way and holding fast to every good thing he learned.
💡 Example Usage
老师的教诲他拳拳服膺，终生践行不怠。
He cherished his teacher's teachings deeply in his heart and practiced them diligently throughout his life.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 拳拳服膺
- Pinyin: quán quán fú yīng
- Literal Translation: clutching tightly, clasping to the chest
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4