涅而不緇

Chinese
blacken
 
and; as well as; but (not)
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 not; no Buddhists; black silk; dark
trad. (涅而不緇) 涅 而 不 緇
simp. (涅而不缁) 涅 而 不 缁

Etymology

From the Analects:

不曰白乎，涅而不緇。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
不曰白乎，涅而不缁。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Bù yuē bái hū, niè'érbùzī. [Pinyin]
Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black?

Pronunciation

Idiom

涅而不緇

  1. to be unaffected by adverse surroundings as one is virtuous

Synonyms
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