remote area beyond reach of law; far from authority
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
"the mountains are high and the emperor is far away" — said of remote places beyond the reach of law and government
Often implies that in such remote areas, central authority is weak and local customs or informal rules prevail. Sometimes used to justify acting independently of regulations. Variant form: 天高皇帝远.
Zhè这
gè个
xiǎo小
zhèn镇
shān山
gāo高
huáng皇
dì帝
yuǎn远
，
jǐng警
chá察
hěn很
shǎo少
lái来
xún巡
luó逻
。
This small town is far from the authorities, so police rarely come to patrol.
Tā他
men们
zhù住
zài在
shān山
gāo高
huáng皇
dì帝
yuǎn远
de的
shān山
qū区
，
guò过
zhe着
yǔ与
shì世
gé隔
jué绝
de的
shēng生
huó活
。
They live in a remote mountainous area far from government reach, leading an isolated life.
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Bié别
yǐ以
wéi为
shān山
gāo高
huáng皇
dì帝
yuǎn远
，
zuò做
le了
huài坏
shì事
jiù就
méi没
rén人
zhī知
dào道
。
Don't think that just because you're far from the authorities, no one will know if you do bad things.