📖 Meaning
A person should govern their actions by a sense of shame, refraining from anything they consider dishonorable. This Confucian principle emphasizes moral self-discipline, where one's internal sense of right and wrong — not external rules — guides behavior. It holds that self-awareness of shame is the foundation of ethical conduct.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the Analects of Confucius (《论语·子路》), a foundational text of the Spring and Autumn period. When the disciple Zigong asked Confucius what defines a true 'scholar-official' (士), Confucius answered: 'One who conducts himself with a sense of shame' (行己有耻). Confucius elaborated that such a person, when sent on missions to the four quarters, would not disgrace his ruler's commands. This established the standard that moral self-restraint, not merely talent or knowledge, is the hallmark of a worthy person.
💡 Example Usage
为人处世，当行己有耻，方能立于不败之地。
In conducting oneself in life, one must act with a sense of shame; only then can one stand firm and avoid ruin.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 行己有耻
- Pinyin: xíng jǐ yǒu chǐ
- Literal Translation: conduct, oneself, have, shame
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4