Chinese Idiom: 亦步亦趋 (Yi Bu Yi Qu)
English Translation: To follow in someone’s footsteps, step by step
pīn yīn: yì bù yì qū
Idiom Meaning: To imitate others closely, lacking independent thoughts or opinions.
Historical Source: “Zhuangzi” (《庄子·田子方》)
Idiom Story:
Yan Hui was one of Confucius’s most esteemed disciples, often praised for his dedication and character. Confucius frequently remarked, “What a virtuous person! Yan Hui!” He admired Yan Hui’s commitment to learning, noting his ability to remain content despite living a life of poverty, sustained by simple meals and humble surroundings.
Yan Hui regarded Confucius as a father figure and sought to emulate him in every aspect of life. One day, he expressed to Confucius, “When you walk slowly, I walk slowly; when you walk quickly, I walk quickly; when you run swiftly, I run swiftly; but if you race ahead at great speed, I can only watch in dismay as I lag behind!”
Confucius, intrigued, asked Yan Hui what he meant by this. Yan Hui explained, “When you speak, I also speak; when you engage in debate, I engage in debate; when you elaborate on the teachings of our predecessors, I do the same. However, sometimes you don’t need to say anything at all, and people still respect you. That is something I cannot achieve, so I can only watch from behind.”
This response reflected Yan Hui’s desire to closely follow his teacher and learn from him at all times. This close adherence to imitation inspired the idiom “亦步亦趋,” signifying a lack of originality and independent thought.