高抬贵手 gāo tái guì shǒu show mercy

Explanation

旧时恳求人原谅或饶恕的话。意思是您一抬手我就过去了。多用于请求对方宽容、放过自己或他人。

A phrase used in the past to beg for forgiveness or pardon. It essentially means that one is saved by the grace of another. Often used to ask someone for leniency or forgiveness.

Origin Story

话说清朝时期，有一位名叫李明的秀才，因得罪了当地一位权势滔天的地主，被地主抓了起来，准备狠狠教训一番。李明本想据理力争，但看到地主那凶狠的表情，心里不禁打起了鼓。他灵机一动，走到地主面前，抱拳说道："老爷，小人知罪，恳求老爷高抬贵手，饶小人一命！"地主见李明如此低声下气，且又态度诚恳，心中怒气也消减了不少。权衡之下，地主最终决定放过李明。李明这才得以逃过一劫，从此之后更加谨言慎行。

huà shuō qīng cháo shí qī, yǒu yī wèi míng jiào lǐ míng de xiù cái, yīn dé zuì le dāng dì yī wèi quán shì tāo tiān de dì zhǔ, bèi dì zhǔ zhuā le qǐ lái, zhǔn bèi hěn hěn jiào xun yī fān. lǐ míng běn xiǎng jù lǐ lì zhēng, dàn kàn dào dì zhǔ nà xiōng hěn de biǎo qíng, xīn lǐ bù jīn dǎ le qǐ gǔ. tā líng jī yī dòng, zǒu dào dì zhǔ miàn qián, bào quán shuō dào: 'lǎo yé, xiǎo rén zhī zuì, kěn qiú lǎo yé gāo tái guì shǒu, ráo xiǎo rén yī mìng!' dì zhǔ jiàn lǐ míng rú cǐ dī shēng xià qì, qiě yòu tài dù chéng kěn, xīn zhōng nù qì yě xiāo jiǎn le bù shǎo. quán héng zhī xià, dì zhǔ zuì zhōng jué dìng fàng guò lǐ míng. lǐ míng cái dé yǐ táo guò yī jié, cóng cǐ zhī hòu gèng jiā jǐn yán shèn xíng.

During the Qing Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Ming who offended a powerful local landlord. The landlord had him arrested, intending to teach him a lesson. Li Ming initially wanted to reason with the landlord, but seeing the landlord's fierce expression, he became apprehensive. Having a sudden inspiration, he approached the landlord, bowed deeply and said, "Sir, I know I have committed a crime, I beg you to show mercy and spare my life!" The landlord, seeing Li Ming so humble and sincere, felt his anger subside. After considering the situation, the landlord decided to let Li Ming go. Li Ming escaped unharmed and was more cautious afterward.

Usage

用于请求对方宽容，原谅或饶恕。

yòng yú qǐng qiú duì fāng kuān róng, yuán liàng huò ráo shù

Used to ask someone to be lenient, forgive, or pardon.

Examples

  • 看在大家的面子上，请高抬贵手，放过他一次吧！

    kan zai da jia de mianzi shang, qing gao tai gui shou, fang guo ta yi ci ba!

    Please be lenient and let him go this time, for everyone's sake!

  • 这次事情的责任在我，请高抬贵手，不要追究了。

    zhe ci shi qing de ze ren zai wo, qing gao tai gui shou, bu yao zhui jiu le

    I am responsible for this matter; please be lenient and do not pursue the matter further.

Related Idioms

  • 宽容

  • 饶恕

  • 原谅

Opposite Idioms

  • 绝不轻饶

  • 严惩不贷