可歌可泣

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: kě gē kě qì
• English Translation: Worthy of songs and tears (heroic and moving)
• Idiom Composition: 「可」（worthy of; should）＋「歌」（to sing; to praise in song）＋「可」（worthy of）＋「泣」（to weep; to shed tears out of deep emotion）
• Meaning: Describes a heroic deed or event so moving and tragic that it deserves to be celebrated in song and brings one to tears. It implies a sense of noble sacrifice and profound emotional impact.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「可歌可泣」 contains the following nuances:

• Praise of Tragic Beauty: This idiom is used for 'tragic' heroic acts involving hardships or self-sacrifice, rather than simple happy endings.
• Depth of Emotion: Because it includes the character 泣 (qì), it suggests a strong emotional reaction that goes beyond mere admiration to shaking one's soul.

3. Usage

「可歌可泣」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Historical Feats and Heroes: The most common context, used to describe people who sacrificed their lives for their country or a great cause, or to describe tragic and heroic battles in history.
  • Example:「无数无名英雄为了国家的独立，谱写了一曲可歌可泣的壮丽史诗。」
    （Countless unsung heroes wrote a heroic and moving epic for the independence of the nation.）
• Devoted Love or Friendship: Used to describe deep affection that transcends death or human dramas occurring in extreme circumstances.
  • Example:「这部电影讲述了一段跨越生死的、可歌可泣的爱情故事。」
    （This movie tells a deeply moving and tragic love story that transcends life and death.）
• Facing Disasters and Hardships: In modern times, it is also used to praise heroic acts by citizens, such as during disaster relief or the fight against a pandemic.
  • Example:「在抗震救灾的第一线，涌现出了许多可歌可泣的感人事迹。」
    （On the front lines of earthquake relief, many heroic and tear-jerking stories emerged.）

Additional Examples:

1. 虽然他们只是普通人，但这种舍己救人的精神真是可歌可泣。
   （Although they are just ordinary people, their spirit of self-sacrifice is truly worthy of praise and tears.）
2. 这段历史虽然沉重，但也充满了可歌可泣的奋斗精神。
   （Although this period of history is heavy, it is also full of a heroic and moving spirit of struggle.）
3. 他不畏强权、坚持真理的一生，实在是可歌可泣。
   （His life of defying power and adhering to the truth is truly heroic and moving.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase can be found in the writings of the Ming Dynasty (明朝) official Hai Rui (海瑞), but its roots are often traced back to the Book of Changes (易经), specifically the Zhongfu (中孚) hexagram, which mentions 'sometimes drumming, sometimes stopping, sometimes weeping, sometimes singing' (或鼓或罢，或泣或歌).
• Usage Note: This is a very weighty expression. Using it for trivial kindnesses (e.g., a friend buying you lunch) would sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic.
• Nuance: The character 歌 (gē) represents praise, while 泣 (qì) represents moving sorrow. It is typically used when greatness is accompanied by pain or sacrifice.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 惊天地，泣鬼神 (jīng tiān dì, qì guǐ shén): To startle heaven and earth and make the spirits weep; describes something incredibly powerful and moving.
  • 气壮山河 (qì zhuàng shān hé): A spirit as magnificent as the mountains and rivers; describes a very heroic and imposing manner.
  • 惊天动地 (jīng tiān dòng dì): To describe something extremely significant or earth-shattering.link
  • 惊心动魄 (jīng xīn dòng pò): To describe a scene or experience that is extremely thrilling and exciting.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary and unremarkable; having nothing special or moving about it.link
  • 不值一提 (bù zhí yī tí): Not worth mentioning; insignificant or trivial.
  • 微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào): Something is too small or insignificant to be worth mentioning.link

6. Summary

可歌可泣 (kě gē kě qì) is a high-register idiom used to praise heroic actions involving self-sacrifice or tragic yet inspiring historical events. As the literal meaning 'worthy of song and worthy of tears' suggests, it is reserved for events that evoke deep admiration and emotional resonance. It is not used for trivial matters but for solemn and grand contexts.