die for honor; shatter like jade
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to die rather than submit; to sacrifice oneself to preserve one's integrity (figurative: like jade that shatters rather than bends)
literaryOften used in the classical phrase 宁为玉碎，不为瓦全. Contrasts with 瓦全 (surviving in dishonor). The image comes from the idea that jade, when struck, breaks rather than bends, symbolizing unyielding integrity.
Níng宁
wéi为
yù玉
suì碎
，
bù不
wéi为
wǎ瓦
quán全
。
Better to die with honor than to survive in disgrace.
Tā他
nìng宁
yuàn愿
yù玉
suì碎
，
yě也
bù不
yuàn愿
xiàng向
dí敌
rén人
tóu投
xiáng降
。
He would rather die honorably than surrender to the enemy.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
yù玉
suì碎
de的
jīng精
shén神
，
zài在
mín民
zú族
wēi危
nàn难
zhī之
jì际
yóu尤
wéi为
kě可
guì贵
。
This spirit of dying for one's principles is especially precious in times of national crisis.
Yù玉
suì碎
wǎ瓦
quán全
The choice between dying with honor (jade shattering) and surviving in disgrace (tile remaining whole)