endure humiliation; bear disgrace
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to endure humiliation and bear disgrace; to swallow insults and put up with shame
literaryA four-character idiom (chengyu) describing the act of patiently enduring insults, shame, or dirty treatment, often for a greater long-term goal or due to powerlessness. Carries a tone of forbearance and sacrifice. Commonly used in historical, literary, or formal contexts.
Gōu勾
Jiàn践
rěn忍
rǔ辱
hán含
gòu垢
，
wò卧
xīn薪
cháng尝
dǎn胆
，
zhōng终
yú于
dǎ打
bài败
le了
Wú吴
guó国
。
Gou Jian endured humiliation and bore disgrace, sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, until he finally defeated the state of Wu.
Wèi为
le了
bǎo保
zhù住
jiā家
rén人
de的
ān安
quán全
，
tā他
bù不
dé得
bù不
rěn忍
rǔ辱
hán含
gòu垢
de地
huó活
xià下
qù去
。
In order to keep his family safe, he had to endure humiliation and live on.
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Zài在
nà那
gè个
hēi黑
àn暗
de的
nián年
dài代
，
xǔ许
duō多
zhī知
shi识
fèn分
zǐ子
zhǐ只
néng能
rěn忍
rǔ辱
hán含
gòu垢
。
During those dark times, many intellectuals could only swallow their pride and endure the humiliation.