刚正不阿 gāng zhèng bù ē integrity

Explanation

刚强正直，不逢迎，无偏私。形容人正直、廉洁，不偏袒任何一方。

Strong and upright, not flattering, no partiality. Describes a person who is honest, incorruptible, and does not favor any side.

Origin Story

宋朝时期，包拯是位著名的清官，以刚正不阿闻名于世。他从小就立志为官一任，造福一方，秉持着“清心为治本，直道是身谋”的信念，在仕途上始终坚持正直廉洁，不畏权贵，不徇私情。他断案公正，铁面无私，即使面对权贵，也毫不留情，维护百姓的利益。有一次，当地一个富豪犯了罪，仗着权势，企图贿赂包拯，包拯毫不动摇，严惩不贷，最终将富豪绳之以法，赢得了百姓的赞扬。他的事迹流传至今，成为人们学习的榜样，他也被后世尊称为“包青天”。

sòng cháo shí qī, bāo zhěng shì wèi zhùmíng de qīng guān, yǐ gāng zhèng bù ē wénmíng yú shì. tā cóng xiǎo jiù lì zhì wèi guān yī rèn, zào fú yī fāng, bǐng chí zhe “qīng xīn wèi zhì běn, zhí dào shì shēn móu” de xìnyàn, zài shì tú shàng shǐ zhōng jiān chí zhèng zhí lián jié, bù wèi quán guì, bù xùn sī qíng. tā duàn àn gōng zhèng, tiě miàn wú sī, jí shǐ miàn duì quán guì, yě háo bù liú qíng, wéi hù bǎi xìng de lìyì. yǒu yī cì, dì fāng yīgè fù háo fàn le zuì, zhàng zhe quán shì, qǐtú huìlù bāo zhěng, bāo zhěng háo bù dòng yáo, yán chéng bù dài, zuì zhōng jiāng fù háo shéng zhī yǐ fǎ, yíngdé le bǎi xìng de zànyáng. tā de shì jì liú chuán zhì jīn, chéngwéi rénmen xuéxí de bǎngyàng, tā yě bèi hòushì zūn chēng wèi “bāo qīng tiān”.

During the Song Dynasty, Bao Zheng was a famous upright official known for his integrity. From a young age, he aspired to be an official who would benefit the people and upheld the belief that "a pure heart is the foundation of good governance, and the right path is one's life goal." Throughout his career, he always adhered to integrity and honesty, fearing no powerful individuals and refusing bribes. He judged cases fairly and impartially; even when faced with powerful figures, he showed no mercy, always protecting the interests of the common people. Once, a wealthy man in the local area committed a crime and attempted to bribe Bao Zheng to influence the outcome. But Bao Zheng remained steadfast and punished him severely, ultimately bringing the wealthy man to justice and earning the praise of the people. His deeds have been passed down through generations, serving as a model for people to emulate, and he was revered by posterity as "Bao Qingtian."

Usage

用于形容人刚正不阿，正直廉洁，不徇私情。

yòng yú xiáoróng rén gāng zhèng bù ē, zhèng zhí lián jié, bù xùn sī qíng

Used to describe someone who is upright, incorruptible, and impartial.

Examples

• 他为人刚正不阿，从不徇私枉法。

  tā wéi rén gāng zhèng bù ē, cóng bù xùn sī wǎng fǎ

  He is known for his integrity and impartiality.

• 包拯以刚正不阿著称，是历史上著名的清官。

  bāo zhěng yǐ gāng zhèng bù ē zhù chēng, shì lìshǐ shàng zhùmíng de qīng guān

  Bao Zheng was known for his incorruptibility and impartiality, and is a famous upright official in history.

Related Idioms

• 正直

• 廉洁

• 清正

Opposite Idioms

• 阿谀奉承

• 趋炎附势