见义勇为

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiàn yì yǒng wéi
• English Translation: To act bravely upon seeing what is right; to have courage when witnessing justice.
• Idiom Composition: 「见」（To see）＋「义」（Justice, righteousness）＋「勇」（Courage）＋「为」（To act）
• Meaning: To act courageously for justice and what is right, without regard for danger or difficulty. It means standing up bravely against injustice or wrongdoing.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「见义勇为」 contains the following nuances:

• Sense of justice: Refers to actions based on a strong sense of justice, refusing to tolerate injustice or wrongdoing.
• Bravery: Represents the courage to act boldly without fear of danger, difficulty, or loss.
• Self-sacrifice: May include the spirit of self-sacrifice, prioritizing the interests of others or society over one's own safety or benefit.
• Proactive action: Emphasizes not just thinking internally but taking actual action.

3. Usage

「见义勇为」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Praise: Used to praise someone who has acted bravely for others.
  • Example:「他见义勇为，救助了受伤的路人。」
    （He acted bravely upon seeing what was right and helped the injured passerby.）
• Model example: Used to present behavior as a model for society or others to follow.
  • Example:「我们应该学习他见义勇为的精神。」
    （We should learn from his spirit of acting bravely for justice.）
• Describing actions: Used to describe someone acting bravely for justice.
  • Example:「这位警察在面对歹徒时毫不畏惧，见义勇为，保护了群众的安全。」
    （This police officer faced the criminal without fear and acted bravely for justice, protecting the safety of the people.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在灾难面前，许多志愿者见义勇为，积极参与救援工作。
   （In the face of disaster, many volunteers acted bravely for justice and actively participated in rescue efforts.）
2. 她见义勇为，揭露了公司的不正当行为，虽然面临压力，但她从不后悔。
   （She acted bravely for justice by exposing the company's wrongdoing. Despite facing pressure, she never regretted it.）
3. 他见义勇为的行为赢得了大家的尊敬和赞扬。
   （His actions of acting bravely for justice earned everyone's respect and praise.）
4. 面对歹徒的威胁，他没有退缩，而是见义勇为，保护了身边的孩子。
   （Facing the threat of a criminal, he did not retreat but acted bravely for justice, protecting the children nearby.）
5. 这位年轻人见义勇为，跳入河中救起了落水的儿童，受到了社会各界的高度赞扬。
   （This young man acted bravely for justice, jumping into the river to save a drowning child, and received high praise from all sectors of society.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Influence of Confucianism: '见义勇为' is deeply connected to traditional Confucian values in China. Confucianism emphasizes the Five Constants: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, with 'righteousness' referring to doing what is right. '见义勇为' is highly regarded as embodying this principle of righteousness through action.
• Admiration for heroes: Chinese history and literature feature many heroes who embody the spirit of '见义勇为', fighting for the people. These heroic images have fostered admiration for the spirit of acting bravely for justice.
• Significance in modern society: Even today, '见义勇为' is recognized as an important moral value. It is expected that every citizen upholds this spirit to maintain social order and safety.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 挺身而出 (tǐng shēn ér chū): To step forward bravely without regard for difficulties or danger.
  • 奋不顾身 (fèn bù gù shēn): To act courageously without concern for one's own safety.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 见利忘义 (jiàn lì wàng yì): To forget justice for the sake of profit.
  • 畏首畏尾 (wèi shǒu wèi wěi): To be timid and unable to take decisive action.

6. Summary

'见义勇为' is an idiom reflecting traditional Chinese moral values and remains significant in modern society. It not only expresses bravery in action but also implies a strong sense of justice and the spirit of self-sacrifice. Understanding and appropriately using this idiom can enhance your Chinese language skills and deepen your appreciation of Chinese culture.