📖 Meaning
To not distinguish between right and wrong, or to refuse to differentiate truth from falsehood. It describes a state where moral judgment is suspended, whether out of indifference, laziness, or a deliberate avoidance of taking sides.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom does not trace back to a specific classical text or historical anecdote. It draws on the long-standing Chinese philosophical concern with distinguishing 是非 (right and wrong), a theme central to Confucian ethics and Daoist skepticism alike. The word 间 is used here as a verb meaning 'to separate or draw a line between,' paired with 是 (correct) and 非 (wrong). Over time the phrase entered common usage to describe someone who fails or refuses to make moral distinctions.
💡 Example Usage
面对争论，他总是无间是非，从不表明立场。
Faced with disputes, he never distinguishes right from wrong and never takes a clear stance.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 无间是非
- Pinyin: wú jiàn shì fēi
- Literal Translation: not, distinguish, right, wrong
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4