Chinese Idiom: 厚颜无耻 (Hou Yan Wu Chi)
English Translation: Shameless and brazen
pīn yīn: hòu yán wú chǐ
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is audaciously shameless, lacking a sense of decency or shame.
Historical Source: The idiom originates from the Book of Songs (《诗经》), specifically the section Xiao Ya, Qiao Yan (《小雅·巧言》).
Idiom Story:
Qiao Yan is a narrative poem from the Western Zhou period that exposes the corrupt actions of petty people who bring ruin to the state and harm virtuous individuals. The likely author, a victim of such machinations, uses his experiences to portray the despicable behavior of these petty individuals and the consequences of their actions. He identifies the root cause of their rise to power as King You of Zhou’s credulity toward slanderers.
The poem consists of six sections with a total of forty-eight lines. The first section recounts the author’s personal suffering due to slander, while the subsequent chapters highlight the consequences of the ruler’s belief in false accusations. The fourth section praises wise monarchs who can discern right from wrong, while the final two sections sharply criticize the shamelessness of slanderers and their ability to manipulate language.
In particular, the fifth and sixth sections include lines such as:
- “善于进谗的人总是装着很温顺的样子，以讨取当权者的欢心” (Those who are skilled in slandering always act very submissively to curry favor with those in power).
- “那些进谗者是些什么人呢? 地位既卑下，又没有本事，他的职务就是专门制造祸乱” (What kind of people are these slanderers? They hold lowly positions and lack ability, yet their role is to create chaos).
The lines emphasize that those who spread slander often present themselves as humble and amiable to gain the favor of the powerful, even though they are base and incompetent. Their shamelessness is evident as they manipulate situations for their gain.
From the phrase “颜之厚矣” (thick-faced), which indicates someone with a brazen demeanor, the idiom “厚颜无耻” emerged, denoting individuals who shamelessly act without any regard for morality or decency. The idiom serves as a critique of those who, in their unscrupulous pursuits, blatantly disregard shame.
