📖 Meaning
To vow to die rather than submit or yield. It describes a person who remains steadfast and refuses to surrender even under the threat of death. This idiom conveys unwavering resolve and loyalty to one's principles.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom does not derive from a single specific historical text but reflects a spirit celebrated throughout Chinese history. The phrase encapsulates the ethos of martyrs and loyal officials who chose death over submission to invaders or tyrants. Figures such as Wen Tianxiang of the Song dynasty, who refused to surrender to the Mongols, exemplify this unyielding spirit. Over time, the expression became a common phrase praising those who hold fast to their convictions regardless of the consequences.
💡 Example Usage
面对敌人的严刑拷打，他誓死不屈，没有透露任何情报。
Under the enemy's brutal torture, he vowed to die before submitting and revealed no intelligence whatsoever.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 誓死不屈
- Pinyin: shì sǐ bù qū
- Literal Translation: swear, death, not, submit
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4