见义勇为
- Literal
- to see what is right and act on it bravely
- Figurative
- To step in and do the right thing the moment the situation calls for it, even at a cost or a risk to yourself.
Where does 见义勇为 come from?
It comes from the 《论语》, in the 为政 chapter, where Confucius says: “见义不为，无勇也” —to see what is right and fail to do it is a lack of courage. The idiom flips the line into the positive: whoever sees what is right, does it. In China today the phrase also has a semi-official life: a citizen who takes a risk to help a stranger —stopping a theft, pulling someone out of the water— is described as 见义勇为, and there are awards that carry the name.
Source (出处): 《论语·为政》
How is 见义勇为 used? Two examples
- 他跳下河救人，这种见义勇为的行为值得表扬。
He jumped into the river to save someone; that kind of brave act deserves recognition.
- 社区给这位见义勇为的年轻人发了奖状。
The neighborhood gave the young man a certificate for stepping in when it counted.
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