Chinese Idiom: 汗流浃背 (Han Liu Jia Bei)
English Translation: Sweat flows and soaks the back
pīn yīn: hàn liú jiā bèi
Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe someone who is extremely ashamed or frightened; it can also refer to someone who is drenched in sweat.
Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian · Biography of Chen Ping” (《史记·陈丞相世家》)
Idiom Story:
After the death of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty, his wife, Empress Lü, seized power, aiming to transform the Liu family’s reign into one dominated by her own clan. Following her death, Chen Ping and Zhou Bo conspired to eliminate the Lü family and supported Liu Heng, who later became Emperor Wen of Han.
Once Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he appointed Chen Ping as the Left Chancellor and Zhou Bo as the Right Chancellor. At that time, the Right Chancellor was the highest official in the court, assisting the emperor in managing state affairs.
As time passed, Emperor Wen became more familiar with the governance of the country. One day, during a court session, he asked Zhou Bo how many cases had been reviewed and judged nationwide in a year. Zhou Bo, feeling embarrassed, admitted he did not know. The emperor then inquired about the revenue and expenditures of the state. Again, Zhou Bo responded with uncertainty, saying he did not know. At this moment, Zhou Bo felt so ashamed that he broke out in a cold sweat, soaking his back.
Emperor Wen then turned to Chen Ping, who was known for his intelligence and resourcefulness. Chen Ping replied, “These matters have designated officials in charge. If Your Majesty wants to know about the cases, you can ask the Court of Judicial Review; for revenue and expenditure, you can inquire with the Minister of Granaries.”
Satisfied with Chen Ping’s response, Emperor Wen asked, “Since there are officials responsible for these matters, what are you and Zhou Bo responsible for?” Chen Ping cleverly answered, “The main duties of the Chancellor are to assist Your Majesty in governance, regulate the yin and yang, ensure seasonal harmony; to nurture all living things and ensure their timely growth; to pacify the foreign tribes and vassal states; and to connect with the people, ensuring that the nobles and officials fulfill their responsibilities.”
Emperor Wen nodded in understanding. After the court session, Zhou Bo, both ashamed and annoyed, approached Chen Ping and said, “Why didn’t you teach me how to answer the emperor’s questions beforehand?” Chen Ping smiled and replied, “You are in that position; shouldn’t you know your own duties? If the emperor were to ask how many thieves there are in Chang’an, would you force yourself to answer?”
Recognizing his own limitations compared to Chen Ping, Zhou Bo eventually requested to retire from his position due to illness, allowing Chen Ping to serve as Chancellor alone.
This story highlights the importance of understanding one’s responsibilities and the feelings of embarrassment that can arise from a lack of knowledge. The idiom “汗流浃背” serves as a reminder of the weight of responsibility and the potential for shame in leadership.
