📖 Meaning
Literally meaning 'with whom would I return,' this idiom expresses a yearning for a kindred spirit or worthy companion. It conveys the loneliness of finding no one of similar ideals and aspiration to stand alongside.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Guoyu' (Discourses of the States), specifically the 'Jin Yu Ba' section, a historical text from the Spring and Autumn period. In the passage, someone reflects that if the dead could be brought back to life, he would wonder with whom he would stand. The rhetorical question captures the deep desire for a righteous and like-minded ally, emphasizing that true purpose requires companionship in shared ideals.
💡 Example Usage
先生既殁，吾谁与归，唯有独善其身以终老。
Now that the master has passed away, with whom can I return? I can only cultivate my own virtue and live out my days alone.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 吾谁与归
- Pinyin: wú shuí yǔ guī
- Literal Translation: I, who, with, return
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4