Chinese Idiom: 一夜十起 (Yi Ye Shi Qi)
English Translation: Waking Ten Times in a Night
pīn yīn: yī yè shí qǐ
Idiom Meaning: Waking up ten times in a single night. It describes the attentive and considerate care given to a sick person, where the caregiver is unable to sleep soundly and frequently gets up to check on the patient.
Historical Source: “Book of the Later Han · Biography of Fifth Lun.”
Idiom Story: During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Fifth Lun was known for his upright character and incorruptible conduct. As the governor of Kuaiji, he personally cut grass to feed his horses, and his wife handled household chores, cooking, and cleaning. His reputation was highly regarded at the time.
Once, someone asked Fifth Lun, “Can you truly say you have no personal biases?”
Fifth Lun replied, “A friend of mine once sought a government position through me and offered me a fine horse. Although I did not accept the horse and have not recommended him for any position, I often think of him whenever I consider recommending someone. When my nephew was ill, I got up ten times in one night to check on him, and I could sleep well each time afterward. When my son was sick, I also got up frequently to check on him, but I couldn’t stop worrying and couldn’t sleep at all through the night. Given this, can I truly claim to have no personal biases?”
This story gave rise to the idiom “一夜十起,” illustrating the diligent and caring attention given to someone, often at the expense of one’s own rest.
