出师有名 chū shī yǒu míng to have a just cause

Explanation

指有正当理由，才能开始行动。多用于战争，也用于其他事情。

It means having a good reason to start an action. It is mainly used in reference to wars, but also to other matters.

Origin Story

话说公元228年，诸葛亮为报先帝刘备之托，准备北伐中原，统一全国。在出兵之前，诸葛亮就向后主刘禅详细阐述了北伐的理由，那就是曹魏政权内部矛盾重重，民怨沸腾，正是北伐的好时机。他列举了魏国诸多弊端，并说明了蜀汉北伐的正义性，以及能够取得胜利的可能性。刘禅听后，深受感动，并最终同意了诸葛亮的北伐计划。诸葛亮出兵前写下了著名的《出师表》，表明自己的决心和北伐的正义性，这充分展现了诸葛亮出师有名，理直气壮。这北伐，不仅是为了实现刘备的遗愿，也是为了天下苍生，为了国家的统一与安定。

shuō huà gōngyuán 228 nián, zhūgě liàng wèi bào xiāndì liú bèi zhī tuō, zhǔnbèi běifá zhōngyuán, tǒngyī quán guó. zài chūbīng zhī qián, zhūgě liàng jiù xiàng hòu zhǔ liú chán xiángxì chǎnshù le běifá de lǐyóu, jiù shì cáo wèi zhèngquán nèibù máodùn chóngchóng, mínyuàn fèitēng, zhèng shì běifá de hǎo shíjī. tā lièjǔ le wèi guó zhūduō bìduān, bìng shuōmíng le shǔ hàn běifá de zhèngyì xìng, yǐjí nénggòu qǔdé shènglì de kěnéngxìng. liú chán tīng hòu, shēn shòu gǎndòng, bìng zuìzhōng tóngyì le zhūgě liàng de běifá jìhuà. zhūgě liàng chūbīng qián xiě xià le zhùmíng de 《chūshī biǎo》, biǎomíng zìjǐ de juéxīn hé běifá de zhèngyì xìng, zhè chōngfèn zhǎnxian le zhūgě liàng chūshī yǒumíng, lǐzhí qìzhuàng. zhè běifá, bù jǐn shì wèile shíxiàn liú bèi de yíyuàn, yě shì wèile tiānxià chāngsēng, wèile guójiā de tǒngyī yǔ ān dìng.

In 228 AD, Zhuge Liang, to fulfill the last wish of the late emperor Liu Bei, prepared for a Northern Expedition to unify the country. Before the expedition, Zhuge Liang explained to the reigning Emperor Liu Shan the reasons for the Northern Expedition in detail: the Cao Wei regime was riddled with internal conflicts and popular discontent, making it an opportune time for a Northern Expedition. He listed many shortcomings of the Wei state and explained the righteousness of the Shu Han Northern Expedition and the possibility of victory. Liu Shan was deeply touched and finally agreed to Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition plan. Before his departure, Zhuge Liang wrote the famous "Declaration of Departure", expressing his determination and the righteousness of the Northern Expedition. This fully demonstrated Zhuge Liang's just cause. This Northern Expedition was not only to realize Liu Bei's last wish but also for the well-being of all people, for national unity and stability.

Usage

作谓语、宾语；指有正当理由。

zuò wèiyǔ, bīnyǔ; zhǐ yǒu zhèngdàng lǐyóu

As predicate, object; it means having a justifiable reason.

Examples

• 诸葛亮北伐，出师有名，举国支持。

  zhūgě liàng běifá, chūshī yǒumíng, jǔ guó zhīchí

  Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition was a just cause, and enjoyed national support.

• 这次行动出师有名，不会遭到反对。

  zhè cì xíngdòng chūshī yǒumíng, bù huì zāodào fǎnduì

  This action is justified and will not meet with opposition.

Related Idioms

• 师出有名

Opposite Idioms

• 出师无名