📖 Meaning
This idiom describes the act of relocating multiple times to find a suitable living environment favorable for educating one's children. It metaphorically emphasizes the importance of a good environment in shaping a child's character and learning. The phrase originates from the famous story of Mencius's mother moving three times.
📜 Origin Story
During the Han dynasty, Liu Xiang recorded in his work 'Biographies of Exemplary Women' (列女传) the story of Mencius's mother. She first lived near a cemetery, where young Mencius imitated mourning and wailing rituals. She then moved near a marketplace, where he copied merchants hawking and boasting about their goods. Finally, she relocated near a school, and Mencius began learning proper etiquette and asked to study. This careful choice of environment ultimately helped shape one of China's greatest philosophers.
💡 Example Usage
为了孩子的成长，他不惜效仿三迁之教，搬到学区房居住。
For the sake of his child's development, he followed the example of relocating for better education by moving into a school-district apartment.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 三迁之教
- Pinyin: sān qiān zhī jiào
- Literal Translation: three, move, of, teaching
- Category: Learning
- Characters: 4