doors unbarred at night; well-governed society
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
doors need not be barred at night (describing a peaceful and well-governed society with excellent public order)
literaryOriginating from classical descriptions of golden-age governance, this idiom is used to praise exceptional social stability and moral conduct where theft is unknown.
Zài在
nà那
gè个
lǐ理
xiǎng想
de的
shè社
huì会
lǐ里
，
zhēn真
zhèng正
shí实
xiàn现
le了
yè夜
bù不
bì闭
hù户
、
lù路
bù不
shí拾
yí遗
。
In that ideal society, the state of leaving doors unbarred at night and lost articles untouched was truly realized.
Zhè这
gè个
dì地
fāng方
zhì治
ān安
jí极
hǎo好
，
jī几
hū乎
dá达
dào到
le了
yè夜
bù不
bì闭
hù户
de的
chéng程
dù度
。
Public order in this place is excellent, almost reaching the level where one need not close doors at night.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhǐ只
yǒu有
zhèng政
zhì治
qīng清
míng明
，
cái才
néng能
shí实
xiàn现
yè夜
bù不
bì闭
hù户
de的
tài太
píng平
shèng盛
shì世
。
Only with honest and enlightened government can a peaceful golden age where doors are left unbarred at night be realized.
Gǔ古
dài代
Rú儒
jiā家
suǒ所
miáo描
huì绘
de的
dà大
tóng同
shì世
jiè界
，
shì是
yī一
gè个
yè夜
bù不
bì闭
hù户
de的
lǐ理
xiǎng想
shè社
huì会
。
The Great Unity world depicted by ancient Confucianism was an ideal society where doors were not closed at night.