📖 Meaning
To bring shame and disgrace upon one's family and household. It describes behavior that ruins the family's reputation and moral standing, typically referring to disgraceful or scandalous conduct by a family member.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty zaju play 'Yan Qing Bo Yu' (Yan Qing Catches Fish) by Li Wenwei. In the first act, a character laments the status of their family, saying 'What kind of family are we, to let him disgrace and ruin our household?' The phrase was later used in vernacular fiction such as the Ming dynasty story collection 'Qingping Shantang Huaben' to denounce conduct that brings disgrace upon a family's good name.
💡 Example Usage
他做出这等丑事，真是辱门败户。
By committing such disgraceful deeds, he has truly brought shame upon his family's name.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 辱门败户
- Pinyin: rǔ mén bài hù
- Literal Translation: disgrace, door/gate, ruin, household
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4