不耻下问

• Pinyin: bù chǐ xià wèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 耻 = 耳 (ear) + 心 (heart), meaning shame; 下 = below; 问 = 门 (door) + 口 (mouth), meaning to ask

Meaning

Not ashamed to ask those of lower status or knowledge; willing to learn from anyone regardless of their position.

A classical idiom praising the virtue of humility in learning. Describes someone who, despite their high status or expertise, is still willing to seek knowledge from those considered beneath them. Often used approvingly to describe good learners or humble experts.

Examples

1. 他虽然是教授，却常常向学生请教，真正做到了不耻下问。 Although he's a professor, he often consults his students — truly embodying the spirit of learning from anyone.
2. 学习就应该不耻下问，不懂就问才能进步。 Learning should involve asking questions without shame — only by asking when you don't understand can you improve.
3. 老总不耻下问，经常找一线员工聊天了解实际情况。 The CEO isn't too proud to learn from anyone — he often chats with frontline employees to understand the real situation.

Usage Guide

Context: learning, praise, humility

Tone: approving

Do Say

• 做学问要不耻下问。(In scholarship, one should not be ashamed to learn from anyone.)
• 他不耻下问的态度值得我们学习。(His humble attitude of asking anyone is worth learning from.)

Don't Say

• 我不耻下问地问了服务员洗手间在哪。(Don't use this idiom for ordinary questions — it specifically praises humility in seeking knowledge despite status differences)

Origin & History

From The Analerta of Confucius. Originally describing Confucius' disciple Kong Wenzi, who was not ashamed to learn from those of lower status. 耻 means ashamed, 下问 means to ask those below.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated