Chinese Idiom: 不求甚解 (Qian Wan Mai Lin)
English Translation: Bu Qiu Shen Jie – Do Not Seek to Understand Deeply
pīn yīn: bù qiú shèn jiě
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who studies or learns without thorough understanding, often doing so carelessly or superficially. It can also refer to someone who does not delve deeply into situations or details.
Historical Source: Collected Works of Tao Yuanming (《陶渊明集·五柳先生传》)
Idiom Story:
Tao Yuanming, also known as Tao Qian, was a famous poet and recluse who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In the year 406 AD, he resigned from his official position and retreated to a life of seclusion in the countryside. Tao Yuanming gave himself the name “Mr. Five Willows” (五柳先生) because of the five willow trees that grew near his home.
After about 14 or 15 years of living in seclusion, at the age of 56, Tao Yuanming wrote an autobiographical essay titled Biography of Mr. Five Willows (《五柳先生传》), where he described his lifestyle and personality. In this essay, he portrayed himself as a person who was content with poverty, indifferent to fame and wealth, and who enjoyed a carefree and unrestrained life. The passage reads:
“The gentleman’s origins are unknown, and his name and surname are not detailed. He adopted the name ‘Mr. Five Willows’ because there were five willow trees beside his house. He is quiet and seldom speaks, and he does not seek fame or wealth. He loves reading but does not pursue deep understanding of the text. Whenever he grasps the meaning of a passage, he becomes so delighted that he forgets to eat. He has a fondness for drinking wine, but due to his poverty, he cannot always afford it. Knowing this, his friends and relatives sometimes invite him over for drinks. Whenever he goes, he drinks to his heart’s content and aims to get thoroughly drunk. Once intoxicated, he leaves without hesitation, paying no mind to his friends’ attempts to keep him longer. His home is small and bare, offering little protection from the wind and sun. He wears tattered clothing made from coarse cloth, and his food and drink vessels are often empty, yet he remains content. He often writes essays and poems for his own amusement, expressing his thoughts and aspirations. He has forgotten worldly gains and losses and is willing to live his life in this manner.”
In this passage, Tao Yuanming’s phrase “好读书，不求甚解” (loves reading but does not pursue deep understanding) became the origin of the idiom “不求甚解.” It describes his relaxed attitude towards learning, where he found joy in simply understanding the general meaning of a text rather than scrutinizing every detail. This idiom has since been used to describe a similar approach to learning or understanding, where one is content with a superficial grasp of knowledge.
