毫不留情 háo bù liú qíng Without mercy

Explanation

形容对人或事毫不留情面，十分严厉或残酷。

To describe someone or something that shows no mercy, is very strict or cruel.

Origin Story

话说很久以前，在一个古老的村庄里，住着一位德高望重的村长。他一生正直，为民办事，深受村民爱戴。然而，村长有一个非常严格的规定，那就是村里任何人违反村规，他都会毫不留情地惩罚。有一次，一个年轻人在醉酒后，不小心损坏了一处村里的公共设施。尽管年轻人诚恳道歉，并承诺赔偿损失，村长还是毫不留情地按照村规处罚了他。村里的人们对此议论纷纷，有的说村长太过于严厉，有的则认为村长如此公正，才能维护村里的秩序。时间久了，人们才慢慢理解了村长。村长不是为了惩罚人而惩罚人，他的一切行为都是为了维护村里的稳定和长治久安。他毫不留情的背后，是维护公正，维护秩序的坚定信念。

huà shuō hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, zài yīgè gǔ lǎo de cūn zhuāng lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi dé gāo wàng zhòng de cūn zhǎng. tā yīshēng zhèng zhí, wèi mín bàn shì, shēn shòu cūn mín ài dài. rán ér, cūn zhǎng yǒu yīgè fēicháng yángè de guīdìng, jiù shì cūn lǐ rènhé rén wéifǎn cūn guī, tā dōu huì háo bù liú qíng de chéngfá. yǒu yī cì, yīgè nián qīng rén zài zuì jiǔ hòu, wú xīn sǔn huài le yī chù cūn lǐ de gōnggòng shèshī. jǐnguǎn nián qīng rén chéng kěn dào qiàn, bìng chéngnuò péicháng sǔnshī, cūn zhǎng háishì háo bù liú qíng de àn zhào cūn guī chǔfá le tā. cūn lǐ de rénmen duì cǐ yìlùn fēnfēn, yǒude shuō cūn zhǎng tài guò yú yánlì, yǒude zé rènwéi cūn zhǎng rúcǐ gōngzhèng, cái néng wéichí cūn lǐ de zhìxù. shíjiān jiǔ le, rénmen cái màn man lǐjiě le cūn zhǎng. cūn zhǎng bùshì wèi le chéngfá rén ér chéngfá rén, tā de yīqiē xíngwéi dōu shì wèi le wéichí cūn lǐ de wěndìng hé cháng zhì jiǔ'ān. tā háo bù liú qíng de bèihòu, shì wéichí gōngzhèng, wéichí zhìxù de jiāndìng xìnyàn.

Once upon a time, in an ancient village, there lived a highly respected village chief. He was known for his integrity and fairness, and was deeply loved by the villagers. However, the chief had a very strict rule: anyone who broke village rules would be punished without mercy. One time, a young man, after getting drunk, accidentally damaged a piece of public property. Despite the young man's sincere apologies and promise to compensate for the loss, the chief still punished him without mercy, according to the village rules. Villagers had different opinions on this event. Some said the chief was too strict, while others thought his fairness was essential for maintaining order. As time went on, people gradually understood the chief's intentions. He didn't punish people for the sake of it; his actions always aimed at maintaining stability and long-term peace in the village. His ruthlessness stemmed from his firm belief in upholding justice and order.

Usage

作谓语、定语、状语；指不留情面，十分严厉。

zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ, zhuàngyǔ; zhǐ bù liú qíngmiàn, shífēn yánlì

Used as predicate, attributive and adverbial; refers to something that shows no mercy and is very strict.

Examples

• 他毫不留情地批评了我的错误。

  tā háo bù liú qíng de pīpíng le wǒ de cuòwù

  He criticized my mistakes without mercy.

• 面对敌人的进攻，他们毫不留情地还击。

  miàn duì dí rén de jìngōng, tāmen háo bù liú qíng de huíjī

  In the face of the enemy's attack, they fought back without mercy.

• 这场比赛，双方毫不留情，竞争激烈。

  zhè chǎng bǐsài, shuāngfāng háo bù liú qíng, jìngzhēng jīliè

  In this game, both sides fought without mercy, and the competition was fierce.

Related Idioms

• 铁石心肠

• 冷酷无情

Opposite Idioms

• 手下留情

• 网开一面