无情无义

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: wú qíng wú yì
• English Translation: Heartless and ungrateful (devoid of emotion and loyalty)
• Idiom Composition: 「无」（Without; lacking.）＋「情」（Affection, emotion, or human feeling.）＋「无」（Without; lacking.）＋「义」（Loyalty, righteousness, or moral obligation.）
• Meaning: To be completely lacking in both human affection (情 - qíng) and moral obligation or loyalty (义 - yì). It is a strong derogatory term used to criticize someone who is cold-blooded, ungrateful, or betrays those close to them.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「无情无义」 contains the following nuances:

• The Absence of 'Qing' and 'Yi': In Chinese philosophy, 情 (qíng) refers to the emotional connection between people, while 义 (yì) refers to the social and moral duty to do what is right. Lacking both implies a total failure of character.
• Strong Derogatory Tone: This is not a light criticism. It is a powerful verbal attack that essentially denies the target's humanity, suggesting they are no better than a beast.

3. Usage

「无情无义」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Condemning Betrayal: Used when a lover, friend, or partner forgets past kindness and betrays you in a moment of need.
  • Example:「我帮了他那么多，他却在我困难时落井下石，真是个无情无义的小人！」
    （I helped him so much, but he kicked me when I was down; he is truly a heartless and ungrateful scoundrel!）
• Character Assessment: Used to warn others that a specific person is cold-hearted and not to be trusted.
  • Example:「这种无情无义的人不值得你为他伤心。」
    （A heartless and ungrateful person like that isn't worth your tears.）

Additional Examples:

1. 没想到他为了利益竟然出卖朋友，简直是无情无义。
   （I never expected him to sell out his friend for profit; he is simply devoid of any sense of loyalty or affection.）
2. 你既然这么无情无义，那我们从此一刀两断。
   （If you are going to be this cold and unfeeling, then our relationship is over.）
3. 历史上那些无情无义的暴君，最终都没有好下场。
   （The ruthless and heartless tyrants of history all met with bad ends.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In the context of Confucianism (儒家), the concepts of 仁 (rén - benevolence) and 义 (yì - righteousness) are essential to being considered a 'human' in a social sense. To be called 无情无义 (wú qíng wú yì) is a profound insult.
• A famous literary instance occurs in the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin (曹雪芹), where the character Lin Daiyu (林黛玉) expresses her despair by calling the protagonist Jia Baoyu (贾宝玉) 'heartless and ungrateful.'
• In modern usage, this phrase is a staple of dramatic confrontations in TV shows and movies, particularly during breakups or business betrayals. Because of its intensity, using it in real life often signals a permanent break in a relationship.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 薄情寡义 (bó qíng guǎ yì): Fickle in affection and lacking in loyalty; slightly less intense than 无情无义 (wú qíng wú yì) but carries a similar meaning.
  • 冷酷无情 (lěng kù wú qíng): Cold-blooded and heartless; focuses more on the coldness of one's personality.link
  • 恩断义绝 (ēn duàn yì jué): To completely break off a relationship and all ties of gratitude and friendship.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 深情厚谊 (shēn qíng hòu yì): Deep affection and profound friendship.
  • 有情有义 (yǒu qíng yǒu yì): Possessing both affection and a sense of loyalty; describes a person who is warm and principled.
  • 全心全意 (quán xīn quán yì): To do something with all one's heart and mind.link
  • 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì): To help each other in times of difficulty.link

6. Summary

The idiom 无情无义 (wú qíng wú yì) is a severe condemnation of someone who lacks the two fundamental pillars of human relationships in Chinese culture: 情 (qíng), representing emotional bonds and empathy, and 义 (yì), representing loyalty and moral duty. It is most commonly used in situations of deep betrayal or when someone ignores past kindness for selfish gain.