Chinese Idiom: 五十步笑百步 (Wu Shi Bu Xiao Bai Bu)
English Translation: Fifty Steps Laughing at a Hundred Steps
pīn yīn: wǔ shí bù xiào bǎi bù
Idiom Meaning: This idiom suggests that while both parties have flaws or errors, one criticizes the other for a problem they themselves also possess, only to a lesser extent.
Historical Source: Mencius: Liang Hui Wang I (《孟子·梁惠王上》).
Idiom Story
During the Warring States period, the state of Wei was ruled by King Hui of Wei (also known as King Liang Hui). His reign was marked by constant warfare, which led to widespread suffering among the people. The constant military campaigns drained resources, leading to famine and hardship, with farmers unable to work their lands.
In an effort to strengthen his state, King Hui sought advice from Mencius, a renowned philosopher. He proudly explained his measures to alleviate the suffering, such as redistributing people and resources from disaster-stricken areas to more stable regions. Despite these efforts, he observed that his people’s numbers did not increase compared to those in neighboring states.
Mencius responded by comparing the situation to a battlefield. He said, “When the battle is over and the defeated soldiers flee, some run a hundred steps and others run fifty. The soldiers who ran fifty steps laugh at those who ran a hundred, saying they are cowards. Do you think this is right?”
King Hui replied, “No, it is not right. Both are fleeing, only differing in the distance.”
Mencius continued, “Just as the soldiers who ran fifty steps are not different from those who ran a hundred, your measures to help the people, though somewhat better, are still fundamentally the same as those of the neighboring states. True care for the people involves genuine efforts to improve their lives, not just superficial changes.”
Thus, Mencius illustrated that while King Hui’s efforts were more considerate than those of others, they still failed to address the root causes of the problems. This analogy led to the idiom “五十步笑百步,” meaning that criticizing others for faults one also has, only to a lesser extent, is unjust.
