Chinese Idiom: 招摇过市 (Zhao Yao Guo Shi)
English Translation: Flaunt oneself while passing through the market
pīn yīn: zhāo yáo guò shì
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who deliberately flaunts themselves in front of the crowd to attract attention, displaying an ostentatious demeanor.
Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》) in the biography of Confucius.
Idiom Story:
In the late Spring and Autumn period, Confucius (Kongzi) visited the State of Wei. The wife of the ruler, Lady Nan, sent a message inviting him to meet her. Initially, Confucius declined the invitation, but eventually, he accepted.
Upon arriving at the palace for the meeting, Confucius bowed respectfully in front of Lady Nan, who was seated behind a thin curtain. As he paid his respects, he expressed regret for not visiting earlier, saying, “I did not receive your invitation sooner; now I apologize for my absence.”
Confucius stayed in Wei for over a month. One day, the ruler, Duke Ling, invited him for an outing. Duke Ling rode in one carriage with his wife, accompanied by a eunuch named Yong Qu. Confucius was assigned to a separate carriage behind them, which passed through the marketplace in a grand and ostentatious manner.
Confucius felt dissatisfied with this arrangement. He believed that Duke Ling should not take his wife along on the outing, nor should he be placed in a position lower than a woman. He remarked, “I have never seen a ruler who loves virtue more than he loves women.” Upset by the situation, Confucius decided to leave Wei with his students.
This story reflects the idiom’s meaning of showing off or being ostentatious in a way that draws attention, often at the expense of proper decorum or respect.