Chinese Idiom: 语不惊人 (Yu Bu Jing Ren)
English Translation: Words That Do Not Startle
pīn yīn: yǔ bù jīng rén
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes language or phrases that are plain and do not stand out in any remarkable way. “语” refers to language or sentences.
Historical Source: Poem by Du Fu, 江上值水如海势聊短述
Idiom Story:
Du Fu, a prominent poet during the Tang Dynasty, faced immense hardship during the An-Shi Rebellion, which led to his displacement. In December of 759 AD, he arrived in Chengdu, where he began to stay temporarily at a temple near the banks of the Huanhua River. By 760 AD, with the help of friends, he built a humble thatched cottage on a small plot of land near the river, known today as the famous “Du Fu Thatched Cottage.”
After establishing his cottage, Du Fu’s mood shifted from despair to joy. To commemorate this newfound stability, he wrote a poem titled 堂成 (Completion of the Cottage). The first four lines depict the serene and beautiful setting of his cottage, while the latter lines express a metaphorical meaning, where the arrival of crows and swallows to his cottage signifies his own contentment with having a temporary home.
In the poem’s final lines, Du Fu refers to a well-known literary figure, Yang Xiong, whose residence, “Cao Xuan Tang,” was in Chengdu. Yang Xiong was once mocked for closing himself off to write Tai Xuan Jing and subsequently composed an essay titled 解嘲 (Answering Criticism) in response. Du Fu uses this anecdote to illustrate that if anyone mistakenly equates his thatched cottage with Yang Xiong’s residence, they would also incorrectly compare him to Yang. He emphasizes that he is not inclined to write an essay like Yang to defend himself.
In the spring of the following year, as the Jinchuan River swelled and resembled a vast ocean, Du Fu reflected on his poetry and feelings, leading to the creation of 聊短述. In this poem, he articulates his personality: he admits to being eccentric and unambitious regarding wealth and honor, but rather obsessed with crafting beautiful poetry. He expresses a resolve to continue writing until he produces verses that inspire awe. Ultimately, he desires to achieve a level of poetic mastery comparable to that of famed poets like Tao Yuanming and Xie Lingyun.
The line “语不惊人死不休” (Words that do not startle shall not rest until death) captures his dedication to poetry, and from this phrase, the idiom “语不惊人” emerged, reflecting the essence of plain yet earnest expression.
