大公无私 dà gōng wú sī selflessness

Explanation

大公无私的意思就是指做事公正，没有私心，指从集体利益出发，毫无个人打算。

The idiom means to be fair in doing things, without any selfish motives. It refers to someone who acts from the perspective of the collective interests and has no personal agenda.

Origin Story

战国时期，晋平公想为南阳县选择一个县令，便问他的大夫祁黄羊："你觉得谁比较合适？"祁黄羊推荐了解狐，晋平公听了很吃惊，问道："他可是你的仇人啊，你怎么会推荐他？"祁黄羊说："我推荐的是贤才，而不是我的朋友，怎么会因为他是我的仇人就不推荐他呢？"晋平公听后，非常赞赏祁黄羊的公正无私，便任命解狐为南阳县令。 解狐果然不负众望，为南阳县做出了很多贡献。后来，晋平公又要选择一个军中尉，祁黄羊这次推荐的是自己的儿子祁午。晋平公又问他："难道你儿子比别人都更适合吗？"祁黄羊回答说："我推荐的人都是贤才，我儿子也不例外。我不会因为他是我的儿子就偏袒他，也不会因为他是我的儿子就不推荐他。"晋平公再次被祁黄羊的大公无私所感动，就任命祁午为军中尉。祁午也做得十分出色，深得百姓的爱戴。孔子听说后，称赞祁黄羊推荐人才真是大公无私。

zhàn guó shí qī, jìn píng gōng xiǎng wèi nán yáng xiàn xuǎn zé yī gè xiàn lìng, biàn wèn tā de dài fú qí huáng yáng: "nǐ jué de shuí bǐ jiào shì hé?" qí huáng yáng tuī jiàn le jiě hú, jìn píng gōng tīng le hěn chī jīng, wèn dào: "tā kě shì nǐ de chóu rén a, nǐ zěn me huì tuī jiàn tā?" qí huáng yáng shuō: "wǒ tuī jiàn de shì xián cái, ér bù shì wǒ de péng you, zěn me huì yīn wèi tā shì wǒ de chóu rén jiù bù tuī jiàn tā ne?" jìn píng gōng tīng hòu, fēi cháng zàn shǎng qí huáng yáng de gōng zhèng wú sī, biàn rèn mìng jiě hú wéi nán yáng xiàn lìng. jiě hú guǒ rán bù fù zhòng wàng, wéi nán yáng xiàn zuò chū le hěn duō gòng xiàn. hòu lái, jìn píng gōng yòu yào xuǎn zé yī gè jūn zhōng wèi, qí huáng yáng zhè cì tuī jiàn de shì zì jǐ de ér zi qí wǔ. jìn píng gōng yòu wèn tā: "nán dào nǐ ér zi bǐ bié rén dōu gèng shì hé ma?" qí huáng yáng huí dá shuō: "wǒ tuī jiàn de rén dōu shì xián cái, wǒ ér zi yě bù lì wài. wǒ bù huì yīn wèi tā shì wǒ de ér zi jiù piān tǎn tā, yě bù huì yīn wèi tā shì wǒ de ér zi jiù bù tuī jiàn tā." jìn píng gōng zài cì bèi qí huáng yáng de dà gōng wú sī suǒ gǎn dòng, jiù rèn mìng qí wǔ wéi jūn zhōng wèi. qí wǔ yě zuò de shí fēn yōu sè, shēn dé bǎi xìng de ài dài. kǒng zǐ tīng shuō hòu, chēng zàn qí huáng yáng tuī jiàn rén cái zhēn shì dà gōng wú sī.

During the Warring States period, the ruler of Jin, Jin Pinggong, wanted to choose a prefect for the county of Nanyang. He asked his minister Qi Huangyang, "Who do you think would be suitable?" Qi Huangyang recommended Jie Hu. Jin Pinggong was surprised and asked, "He is your enemy, why would you recommend him?" Qi Huangyang said, "I recommend capable people, not my friends. Why should I not recommend him just because he is my enemy?" Jin Pinggong was impressed by Qi Huangyang's fairness and selflessness and appointed Jie Hu as prefect of Nanyang. Jie Hu lived up to the high expectations and made great contributions to Nanyang. Later, Jin Pinggong wanted to choose a new military commander. This time Qi Huangyang recommended his own son, Qi Wu. Jin Pinggong asked him again, "Is your son really the most suitable candidate?" Qi Huangyang replied, "I only recommend capable people, and my son is no exception. I will not favor him because he is my son, nor will I not recommend him because he is my son." Jin Pinggong was again moved by Qi Huangyang's selflessness and appointed Qi Wu as the military commander. Qi Wu also did an excellent job and was loved by the people. When Confucius heard about this, he praised Qi Huangyang for his selflessness in recommending talents.

Usage

这个成语多用于歌颂人的高尚品德，比如赞美英雄人物、模范人物、优秀党员等，也可以用来批评那些自私自利的人。

zhè ge chéng yǔ duō yòng yú gē sòng rén de gāo shàng pǐn dé, bǐ rú zàn měi yīng xióng rén wù, mó fǎn rén wù, yōu xiù dǎng yuán děng, yě kě yǐ yòng lái pī píng nà xiē zì sī zì lì de rén.

The idiom is often used to praise people’s noble character, such as praising heroes, exemplary figures, outstanding party members, etc., and can also be used to criticize those who are selfish.

Examples

• 他一心为公，为人民服务，真是大公无私！

  tā yī xīn wéi gōng, wéi rén mín fú wù, zhēn shì dà gōng wú sī!

  He is devoted to the public and serves the people, he is truly selfless!

• 领导干部应该大公无私，为人民谋利益。

  lǐng dǎo gān bù yīng gāi dà gōng wú sī, wéi rén mín móu lì yì.

  Leaders should be selfless and work for the benefit of the people.

• 我们应该学习雷锋同志大公无私的精神。

  wǒ men yīng gāi xué xí léi fēng tóng zhì dà gōng wú sī de jīng shén.

  We should learn the selfless spirit of Lei Feng.

Related Idioms

• 舍己为公

• 铁面无私

Opposite Idioms

• 假公济私

• 自私自利

• 利欲熏心