不卑不亢 bù bēi bù kàng Unfazed and not arrogant

Explanation

不卑不亢，指对人有恰当的分寸，既不低声下气，也不傲慢自大。是一种既礼貌又自信的态度，体现了良好的修养和智慧。

Unfazed and not arrogant, refers to maintaining the appropriate measure in dealing with others, neither being servile nor arrogant. It is an attitude that is both polite and confident, reflecting good character and wisdom.

Origin Story

春秋时期，齐国有个著名的外交家叫晏婴。一次，齐王派晏婴出使楚国。楚王想羞辱晏婴，故意让他从一个小门进城。晏婴不卑不亢地说：“我听说，到人家做客，应该走正门。难道楚国没有正门吗？”楚王无言以对。 后来，楚王又故意用最差的饭菜招待晏婴，还故意在席间用两个齐国囚犯来羞辱他。晏婴仍然不卑不亢，笑着说：“我听说，犯了罪的人，就应该接受惩罚。难道楚国没有犯人吗？” 楚王再次无言以对。晏婴用智慧和机智，巧妙地化解了楚王的刁难，既维护了齐国的尊严，又使楚王自取其辱。

chūn qiū shí qī, qí guó yǒu ge zhù míng de wài jiāo jiā jiào yàn yīng. yī cì, qí wáng pài yàn yīng chū shǐ chǔ guó. chǔ wáng xiǎng xiū rǔ yàn yīng, gù yì ràng tā cóng yī ge xiǎo mén jìn chéng. yàn yīng bù bēi bù kàng de shuō: “wǒ tīng shuō, dào rén jiā zuò kè, yīng gāi zǒu zhèng mén. nán dào chǔ guó méi yǒu zhèng mén ma?” chǔ wáng wú yán yǐ duì. hòu lái, chǔ wáng yòu gù yì yòng zuì chà de fàn cài zhī dài yàn yīng, hái gù yì zài xí jiān yòng liǎng ge qí guó qiú fàn lái xiū rǔ tā. yàn yīng réngrán bù bēi bù kàng, xiào zhe shuō: “wǒ tīng shuō, fàn le zuì de rén, jiù yīng gāi jiē shòu chéng fá. nán dào chǔ guó méi yǒu fàn rén ma?” chǔ wáng zài cì wú yán yǐ duì. yàn yīng yòng zhì huì hé jī zhì, qiǎo miào de huà jiě le chǔ wáng de diāo nán, jì wéi hù le qí guó de zūn yán, yòu shǐ chǔ wáng zì qǔ qí rǔ.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a famous diplomat from the State of Qi named Yan Ying. Once, the King of Qi sent Yan Ying as an envoy to the State of Chu. The King of Chu wanted to humiliate Yan Ying and deliberately let him enter the city through a small gate. Yan Ying calmly replied, “I heard that when visiting someone, you should go through the main gate. Does Chu not have a main gate?” The King of Chu was speechless. Later, the King of Chu deliberately served Yan Ying the worst food and deliberately used two prisoners from the State of Qi to humiliate him. Yan Ying still remained calm and said with a smile, “I heard that criminals should be punished. Does Chu not have criminals?” The King of Chu was speechless again. Yan Ying cleverly resolved the King of Chu's humiliations with his wisdom and ingenuity, maintaining the dignity of Qi and causing the King of Chu to humiliate himself.

Usage

这个成语主要用于形容一个人在面对不同情况时，能保持一种既不卑躬屈膝，也不傲慢自大的态度。

zhè ge chéng yǔ zhǔ yào yòng yú xíng róng yī ge rén zài miàn duì bù tóng qíng kuàng shí, néng bǎo chí yī zhǒng jì bù bēi gōng qū xī, yě bù ào màn zì dà de tài dù.

This idiom is mainly used to describe a person's ability to maintain an attitude of neither servility nor arrogance when facing different situations.

Examples

• 在面对领导批评时，他始终不卑不亢，表现出良好的职业素养。

  zài miàn duì lǐng dǎo pī píng shí, tā shǐ zhōng bù bēi bù kàng, biǎo xiàn chū liáng hǎo de zhí yè sù yǎng.

  He remained unfazed and calm when facing criticism from his boss, showing good professional qualities.

• 在谈判桌上，他说话不卑不亢，既维护了公司的利益，又保持了良好的合作关系。

  zài tán pán zhuō shàng, tā shuō huà bù bēi bù kàng, jì wéi hù le gōng sī de lì yì, yòu bǎo chí le liáng hǎo de hé zuò guān xì.

  At the negotiating table, he spoke with neither servility nor arrogance, maintaining both the company's interests and a good cooperative relationship.

• 面对困难，我们应该不卑不亢，积极面对，努力克服。

  miàn duì kùn nán, wǒ men yīng gāi bù bēi bù kàng, jī jí miàn duì, nǔ lì kè fú.

  In the face of difficulties, we should be calm and confident, actively face them and strive to overcome them.

Related Idioms

• 沉着冷静

• 泰然自若

Opposite Idioms

• 卑躬屈膝

• 颐指气使