礼贤下士 lǐ xián xià shì respect the virtuous and talented, and treat people of lower status kindly

Explanation

指对有才能德行的人以礼相待，不计较身份地位去结交他们。体现了谦虚谨慎、尊重人才的美好品德。

To treat talented and virtuous people with respect, regardless of their status. It reflects humility, modesty, and respect for talent.

Origin Story

唐朝名相李勉，出身寒微，却胸怀大志，渴望建功立业。他为官清廉，勤政爱民，深受百姓爱戴。李勉在担任地方官时，就以礼贤下士著称。他发现当地一位县尉，名叫张参，为人正直，办事能力强，便破格提拔他为南郑县令。张参果然不负众望，在南郑县政绩斐然，为百姓做了许多好事。此后，李勉又发现一位名叫李巡的官员，才华横溢，便将他招入幕府，委以重任。李巡协助李勉处理政务，建树颇多，深得李勉信任。李勉与李巡、张参朝夕相处，彼此肝胆相照，成为挚友。后来，李巡和张参先后去世，李勉悲痛不已，为他们修建衣冠冢，以表达自己的思念之情。李勉礼贤下士的佳话，在民间广为流传，成为后世官员效仿的典范。

táng cháo míng xiāng lǐ miǎn, chūshēn hán wēi, què xiōng huái dà zhì, kěwàng jiàn gōng lìyè. tā wèi guān qīnglián, qín zhèng ài mín, shēn shòu bàixìng àidài. lǐ miǎn zài dānrèn dìfāng guān shí, jiù yǐ lǐxián xiàshì zhù chēng. tā fāxiàn dāngdì yī wèi xiàn wèi, míng jiào zhāng cān, wéirén zhèngzhí, bànshì nénglì qiáng, biàn pò gé tíbā tā wèi nán zhèng xiàn lìng. zhāng cān guǒrán bù fù zhòngwàng, zài nán zhèng xiàn zhèng jī fěi rán, wèi bàixìng zuò le xǔ duō hǎo shì. cǐ hòu, lǐ miǎn yòu fāxiàn yī wèi míng jiào lǐ xún de guān yuán, cái huá héng yì, biàn jiāng tā zhāo rù mù fǔ, wěi yǐ zhòng rèn. lǐ xún xiézhù lǐ miǎn chǔlǐ zhèng wù, jiàn shù pō duō, shēn dé lǐ miǎn xìnrèn. lǐ miǎn yǔ lǐ xún, zhāng cān zhāoxī xiāngchǔ, bǐ cǐ gāndǎn xiāng zhào, chéngwéi zhì yǒu. hòulái, lǐ xún hé zhāng cān xiānhòu qùshì, lǐ miǎn bēi tòng bù yǐ, wèi tāmen xiūjiàn yì guān zhǒng, yǐ biǎodá zìjǐ de sīniàn zhī qíng. lǐ miǎn lǐxián xiàshì de jiāhuà, zài mínjiān guǎng wèi chuánchuán, chéngwéi hòushì guān yuán xiàofǎng de diǎnfàn.

Li Mian, a famous minister during the Tang Dynasty, came from humble beginnings but harbored great ambitions and longed to make achievements. He was a clean and diligent official, deeply loved by the people. While serving as a local official, Li Mian was known for his respect for talented individuals. He discovered a local magistrate named Zhang Can, who was honest and capable, and exceptionally promoted him to the County Magistrate of Nan Zheng. Zhang Can lived up to expectations, achieving remarkable feats in Nan Zheng and doing much good for the people. Afterwards, Li Mian discovered another official, Li Xun, who was exceptionally talented, and recruited him to his office, entrusting him with important responsibilities. Li Xun assisted Li Mian in governance, achieving great success and earning his trust. Li Mian, Li Xun, and Zhang Can spent their days together, loyal to each other, and became close friends. Later, Li Xun and Zhang Can both passed away, leaving Li Mian in deep sorrow. He built tombs for them to express his remembrance. The story of Li Mian's respect for talented people spread widely and became a model for officials in later generations.

Usage

多用于形容领导、长辈对下属、晚辈的态度，也用来赞扬一个人尊重人才、爱护人才的美好品质。

duō yòng yú xíngróng lǐngdǎo, zhǎngbèi duì xiàshǔ, wǎnbèi de tàidu, yě yòng lái zànyáng yīgè rén zūnzhòng réncái, àihù réncái de měihǎo pǐnzhì

Mostly used to describe the attitude of leaders and elders towards subordinates and juniors, it is also used to praise someone's good quality of respecting and caring for talents.

Examples

• 李将军礼贤下士，深受将士爱戴。

  lǐ jiāngjūn lǐxián xiàshì, shēn shòu jiàngshì àidài

  General Li treated talented people with respect and was loved by his soldiers.

• 他是一位礼贤下士的领导，深得员工敬重。

  tā shì yī wèi lǐxián xiàshì de lǐngdǎo, shēn dé yuángōng jìngzhòng

  He is a leader who respects talented people and is respected by his employees.

• 这家公司礼贤下士，吸引了很多优秀人才。

  zhè jiā gōngsī lǐxián xiàshì, xīyǐn le hěn duō yōuxiù réncái

  This company values talented people and attracts many talented people..

Related Idioms

• 爱才

• 惜才

• 重用

Opposite Idioms

• 盛气凌人

• 目中无人