Chinese idiom · 成语
杀身成仁
Meaning
To die for righteousness; to sacrifice oneself for justice.
Character by character
Origin and story
Confucian sayingThe source is the Analects (論語), Wei Ling Gong chapter. Confucius describes principled, humane people as unwilling to preserve their lives at the expense of ren, the central Confucian ideal of humaneness; in an extreme conflict, they may lose their lives rather than violate it. The idiom condenses the passage’s wording about fulfilling ren at the cost of one’s life.
This is an ethical statement, not a story about a particular named martyr. Later writing applies it to people remembered as dying for justice or a deeply held moral commitment. Because it concerns death and solemn ideals, it is much stronger than ordinary expressions for working hard or making a personal sacrifice.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
读完这段历史，我才明白作者为什么用杀身成仁来评价那位义士。
After reading that history, I understood why the author described the principled man's death as a sacrifice for righteousness.
Solemn historical or moral appraisal; not a casual synonym for effort, and not advice to endanger oneself.