📖 Meaning
A metaphor for going along with the prevailing trend or opinion without independent thought. It describes someone who lacks their own ideas and simply echoes what others say or do, like a sailboat drifting wherever the wind blows.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Chapter 8 of the Qing dynasty novel 'The Legend of Heroic Sons and Daughters' (《儿女英雄传》) by Wen Kang (文康). In the passage, the narrator declares that although he is a meddlesome person, he has never engaged in activities like 'riding a horse downhill, sailing with the wind, currying favor, or wearing flattery' — all metaphors for opportunism and spineless conformity. The phrase '顺风驶船' (sailing with the wind) was used to illustrate the ease of going along with popular opinion rather than standing firm on principle. The novel, published in the mid-19th century, reflects the author's critique of sycophantic social behavior in late imperial China.
💡 Example Usage
他做事从来都是顺风驶船，从不敢提出自己的意见。
He always just goes with the flow in everything he does, never daring to voice his own opinion.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 顺风驶船
- Pinyin: shǔn fēng shǐ chuán
- Literal Translation: follow, wind, sail, boat
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4