行不由径 xíng bù yóu jìng Never take a shortcut

Explanation

比喻为人正直，光明正大，从不走不正当的路。

It means to be upright and honest, never taking an unfair path.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有一位名叫李白的诗人，他一生行侠仗义，为人正直，深受百姓爱戴。一次，李白路过一个山村，村里的人们告诉他，附近山林里出现了一伙强盗，经常抢劫过往商旅，危害百姓安全。李白听后义愤填膺，决定除掉这伙强盗，维护一方安宁。他并没有选择偷偷摸摸地潜入山林，而是光明正大地带上几个伙伴，直接前往强盗的老巢。途中，虽然遇到许多困难险阻，但他始终坚持自己的原则，行不由径，最终成功地将强盗绳之以法，受到了百姓的赞扬。李白的事迹后来成为千古佳话，人们用“行不由径”来形容他光明磊落、正直无私的高尚品格。

huashuo tangchao shiqi, you yi wei ming jiao li bai de shiren, ta yisheng xingxia zhangyi, weiren zhengzhi, shen shou baixing aida. yici, li bai luguo yige shancun, cunli de renmen gaosu ta, fujin shanlin li chuxianle yi huo qiangdao, jingchangqiangjie guowaang shanglv, weihai baixing anquan. li bai tinghou yifen tianying, jueding chudiao zhe huo qiangdao, weihufu yifang anjing. ta bing meiyou xuanze toutou momomo de qianru shanlin, er shi guangmingzhengda de dai shang jige huoban, zhijie qianwang qiangdao de laochao. tudi, suiran yudaoxudu kunnan xianzu, dan ta shizhong jianchi zijide yuanze, xing bu you jing, zhongyu chenggong de jiang qiangdao shengzhiyifa, shoudaole baixing de zanynag. li bai de shiji houlai chengwei qiangu jiahua, renmen yong "xing bu you jing" lai xingrong ta guangming leiluo, zhengzhi wusi de gaoshang pingge.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a famous poet named Li Bai, known for his righteousness and integrity. One day, he heard about a gang of robbers terrorizing the local people. Li Bai decided to stop the robbers and, instead of secretly going, went openly and directly to their hideout. Despite many difficulties, he remained true to his principles and eventually brought the robbers to justice. His story is since then an example of honesty and righteousness.

Usage

形容人行为正直，光明磊落。

xingrong ren xingwei zhengzhi, guangming leiluo

describes someone who is upright and honest.

Examples

• 他为人正直，行不由径。

  ta weiren zhengzhi, xing bu you jing

  He is honest and upright.

• 我们做事要光明磊落，行不由径。

  women zuoshi yao guangming leiluo, xing bu you jing

  We should act openly and honestly and not take detours

Related Idioms

• 光明正大

• 坦荡

Opposite Idioms

• 徇私枉法

• 走歪门邪道