殺身成仁

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See also: 杀身成仁

Chinese

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to be killed; to lose one's life to die for a righteous cause
trad. (殺身成仁) 殺身 成仁
simp. (杀身成仁) 杀身 成仁

Etymology

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From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):

子曰:「志士仁人求生殺身成仁。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
子曰:「志士仁人求生杀身成仁。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Zhìshì rénrén, wú qiúshēng yǐ hài rén, yǒu shāshēnchéngrén.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete."

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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殺身成仁

  1. to die to achieve virtue; to die for a just cause

Synonyms

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