📖 Meaning
Literally 'to walk without treading on danger.' It means to avoid going into dangerous places or situations. The idiom advocates prudence and caution in one's conduct.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no single documented literary source but derives from classical Chinese phrasing conventions. It combines the common verb 行 (to walk, to act) with the negative 不 and 履危 (to tread upon danger). The concept of avoiding danger is a recurring theme in Chinese philosophical and practical wisdom literature, particularly in works associated with prudential ethics. The idiom encapsulates a conservative approach to personal safety.
💡 Example Usage
他一生行不履危，从不涉足险境。
Throughout his life he avoided treading into danger and never set foot in perilous situations.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 行不履危
- Pinyin: xíng bù lǚ wēi
- Literal Translation: walk, not, tread, danger
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4