Chinese Idiom: 必恭必敬 (Bi Gong Bi Jing)
English Translation: Be respectful and courteous
pīn yīn: bì gōng bì jìng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a manner of showing the utmost respect and politeness.
Historical Source: 《诗经 · 小雅 · 小弁》 (The Book of Songs: Minor Ode – Xiaobian).
Idiom Story:
During the late Western Zhou Dynasty, a nobleman’s son was expelled from his home by his father and found himself in a state of wandering and despair. One evening, he stood alone by a door, observing a flock of crows returning to their nests, and he was overwhelmed with sorrow. This scene reminded him of his own separation from his family and his deep sense of loss. He felt that even the birds had a better sense of belonging and companionship than he did.
In his distress, he composed a poem titled 《小弁》 (Xiaobian), which consists of eight chapters with sixty-four verses. The poem expresses his feelings of wrongful expulsion, blocked future prospects, and the sorrow of not being able to reconcile with his parents despite his loyalty and respect.
The third chapter of the poem contains the following lines:
“维桑与梓，必恭敬止。靡瞻匪父，靡依匪母。不属于毛，不离于里。天之生我，我辰安在?”
The meaning of this chapter is: “I am always respectful and courteous to my parents. Although I show them great admiration and respect, I have not earned their favor. Perhaps this is due to the unfavorable timing of my birth.”
The phrase “必恭敬止” from this poem evolved into the idiom “必恭必敬”, reflecting the expectation of always showing respect and courtesy.
