Chinese idiom · 成语
户枢不蠹
Meaning
A door hinge doesn’t rot; constant use prevents decay.
Character by character
Origin and story
philosophicalThe Lüshi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋), in its discussion of preserving life, pairs moving water that does not spoil with a working door pivot that is not attacked by insects. The transmitted passage uses 户枢不蝼, a variant of the familiar wording. A door pivot is continually turning; this ordinary mechanical image illustrates the value of movement rather than inactivity.
The wording 户枢不蠹 appears in later writing, including a passage on guided exercises in the Song collection Yunji Qiqian (云笈七签). There the condition of joints and channels is discussed through the same analogy. The saying subsequently became a general reminder that regular use and activity help keep things in good order, rather than a story about a particular door.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
爷爷常说户枢不蠹，所以每天都练一会儿书法。
Grandpa often says that a working hinge does not decay, so he practices calligraphy every day.
Literary; often paired with 流水不腐 to emphasize the value of regular activity.