不耻下问

Bù chǐ xià wèn
Not ashamed to ask those below oneself
🎓 儒家智慧成语

📜 原文 Original Text

「敏而好学,不耻下问,是以谓之文也。」 ——《论语·公冶长》
— Analects, Gongye Chang

📖 释义 Annotation

「不耻下问」出自孔子对卫国大夫孔文子的评价。孔文子聪敏好学,不以向地位比自己低的人请教为耻——所以谥号为「文」。在等级森严的古代社会,向「下」请教是需要勇气的。孔子赞赏这种态度,因为它体现了真正的求知精神——知识不分贵贱,能者为师。

'Not ashamed to ask those below oneself' — Confucius praised Kong Wenzi for being quick and eager to learn, not ashamed to ask those of lower status. Knowledge knows no rank — the capable are teachers.

💡 当代启示 Modern Application

不要因为面子而拒绝向他人学习。「不耻下问」提醒我们:真正丢脸的不是「不知道」,而是「不想知道」。

Don't refuse learning from others for the sake of face. 'Not ashamed to ask' reminds us: what's truly shameful is not 'not knowing' but 'not wanting to know.'

🔗 相关成语 Related Idioms

📚 延伸阅读 Further Reading