📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a person whose likes and dislikes are sharply defined, with a clear boundary between what they hate and what they love. It indicates a firm, unambiguous stance rather than wishy-washy or vague attitudes. The phrase often carries a positive connotation of moral clarity and principled positions.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase is best known from Zhou Enlai's 1963 inscription '向雷锋同志学习' (Learn from Comrade Lei Feng), written in honor of the model soldier Lei Feng. In it, Zhou praised Lei Feng's '憎爱分明的阶级立场' — a class stand with clear love and hate — alongside his consistent words and deeds, selfless communist style, and fearless proletarian fighting spirit. The inscription was widely publicized during the Learn from Lei Feng campaign and popularized the expression throughout China. It remains associated with principled moral clarity.
💡 Example Usage
他为人正直，憎爱分明，从不与虚伪之人同流合污。
He is a man of integrity whose love and hate are sharply defined, and he never associates with hypocrites.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 憎爱分明
- Pinyin: zēng ài fēn míng
- Literal Translation: hate, love, distinct, clear
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4