求仁得仁

Chinese

 
to seek; to look for; to request
to seek; to look for; to request; to demand; to beseech
humane; kernel
 
get; obtain; gain
get; obtain; gain; proper; suitable; proud; contented; allow; permit; ready; finished; a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect; degree or possibility; to have to; must; ought to; to need to
humane; kernel
simp. and trad.
(求仁得仁)
Literally: “seek virtue and acquire it”.

Etymology

The Analects:

:「夫子?」:「。」:「何人?」:「賢人。」:「?」:「?」:「夫子。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
:“夫子?”:“。”:“何人?”:“贤人。”:“?”:“?”:“夫子。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, Wiktionary translation
Rǎnyǒu yuē: “Fūzǐ wèi wèi jūn hū?” Zǐgòng yuē: “Nuò. Wú jiāng wèn zhī.” Rù, yuē: “Bóyí, Shūqí hérén yě?” Yuē: “Gǔ zhī xiánrén yě.” Yuē: “Yuàn hū?” Yuē: “Qiú rén ér dé rén, yòu hé yuàn?” Chū, yuē: “Fūzǐ bù wèi yě.” [Pinyin]
Ran You said, "Is our Master for the ruler of Wei?" Zi Gong said, "Oh! I will ask him." He went in accordingly, and said, "What sort of men were Boyi and Shuqi?" "They were ancient worthies," said the Master. "Did they have any repinings because of their course?" The Master again replied, "They sought to act virtuously, and they did so; what was there for them to repine about?" On this, Zi Gong went out and said, "Our Master is not for him."

Pronunciation


Idiom

求仁得仁

  1. to have one's wish fulfilled

Usage notes

This idiom is often used sarcastically nowadays.

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