Definition
This four-character idiom means to put justice or moral principles above personal relationships, even to the point of punishing or exposing a family member who has done wrong. It is used in situations where someone prioritizes public duty over private bonds, often in legal or ethical contexts. The literal meaning is 'great righteousness destroys kinship,' but the actual usage implies a difficult choice between loyalty and morality.
f.e.
to place righteousness above family loyaltyto sacrifice family ties for the sake of justice
Examples
- 大义灭亲，。Fǎguān dà yì miè qīn, búgù zìjǐ de érzi fàn le fǎ yě yào yīfǎ chǔlǐ.The judge placed righteousness above his family, insisting on handling his own son according to the law even though he had broken it.
- 大义灭亲，。Zhège gùshi jiǎng de shì yí gè mǔqīn dà yì miè qīn, jǔbào le fàndú de zhàngfu.This story is about a mother who denounced her drug-dealing husband for the sake of justice.
- ，大义灭亲，。Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, tā xuǎnzé dà yì miè qīn, shì yīnwèi tā juéde yuánzé bǐ qīnqíng gèng zhòngyào.In that situation, he chose to uphold righteousness over family ties because he believed principles are more important than blood relations.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.