安步当车

ān bù dàng chē

  • Meaning

    Literal

    To regard walking at a leisurely pace the same as riding in a vehicle

    Usage

    Indicates that one is content with living modestly

  • Connotation

    Neutral

  • Usage Examples

    车站离这不远,我们还是安步当车吧! | Chēzhàn lí zhè bù yuǎn, wǒmen háishì ānbùdàngchē ba!
    The station isn't far from here, let's just go on foot!
    [Source]

    李老师上下班从不坐车,他风趣地说:"我这是安步当车,自享其乐" | Lǐ lǎoshī shàngxiàbān cóng bù zuòchē, tā fēngqù de shuō: "Wǒ zhè shì ānbùdàngchē, zì xiǎng qí lè"
    Teacher Li never drives to work. He humorously says, "I'm enjoying the modest life."
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    Per the 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn), 当 is definitely supposed to be read as dàng and not the usual dāng

  • Origin

    《战国策》(Zhàn Gúo Cè, Strategies of the Warring States), a work which chronicled the Warring States Period (475 - 220 BC)

  • Story

    During the Warring States period, there was a scholar named 颜斶 (Yán Chù). One time, King Xuān of the kingdom of 齐 (Qí) summoned the scholar to his palace. When he arrived, the king behaved very arrogantly, and 颜斶 politely held his ground. After the king realized that he had been in the wrong, he wanted 颜斶 to accept him as his student. As an incentive, the king promised, "I will not only provide you with excellent food, but I'll also give you an excellent carriage to ride." 颜 Jiā declined, replying, "如果这样,我情愿回去,‘晚食以当肉, 安步以当车‘" (Rúguǒ zhèyàng, wǒ qíngyuàn huíqù,'wǎn shí yǐ dāng ròu, ān bù yǐ dāng chē'). Roughly, he meant that he'd consider eating late the same as eating meat, and he'd consider walking slowly the same as riding a carriage

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 全故事网[x]
    • 百度百科[x]
    • 汉语大词典[x]
    • 七故事网[x]