Chinese Idiom: 敢怒而不敢言 (Gan Nu Er Bu Gan Yan)
English Translation: Dare to be angry but not dare to speak
pīn yīn: gǎn nù ér bù gǎn yán
Idiom Meaning: This phrase describes a situation where one feels angry but refrains from expressing it due to fear of authority or repercussions.
Historical Source: This idiom is derived from The Collected Works of Fan Chuan (樊川文集), specifically the poem “Ode to the Efang Palace” (阿房宫赋) by Du Mu from the Tang Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
In “Ode to the Efang Palace,” the poet Du Mu critiques the opulence and extravagance of the feudal rulers of his time. He vividly illustrates the stark contrast between the rulers’ lavish lifestyles and the plight of the common people.
He writes: “Why do the rulers take every tiny bit from the people but waste treasures as if they were mere sand? The pillars that support the grand beams of the Efang Palace outnumber the farmers in the fields; the rafters in the roofs exceed the weavers at their looms; the heads of nails scattered about are more numerous than the grains in the granaries; the uneven roof tiles outnumber the threads of silk worn by the people; the straight railings and horizontal thresholds surpass the cities and walls across the land; the cacophony of musical instruments drowns out the words of the townsfolk.”
This passage conveys the poet’s outrage at the rulers’ unrestrained greed and mindless extravagance, which leads to widespread suffering among the populace. The people feel a deep-seated anger towards their rulers, yet they are too intimidated by their power to voice this discontent openly. Thus, they are left with anger in their hearts, unable to express it.
