Learning & Wisdom
不恥下問
불치하문
bù chǐ xià wèn
Bul-chi-ha-mun
不
아닐 불
恥
부끄러울 치
下
아래 하
問
물을 문
Character by character
Meaning
Not ashamed to ask those below you.
Origin
From the Analects, in Confucius’ assessment of Kong Wenzi.
How it is used
Describes a willingness to learn even from someone junior to you.
Hanja不恥下問
Simplified不耻下问
Korean reading불치하문
Pinyinbù chǐ xià wèn
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does Bul-chi-ha-mun mean?
不恥下問 · Not ashamed to ask those below you.
Q. Where does Bul-chi-ha-mun come from?
From the Analects, in Confucius’ assessment of Kong Wenzi.
Q. How is Bul-chi-ha-mun used?
Describes a willingness to learn even from someone junior to you.
Idioms in the same group
刮目相對 Gwal-mok-sang-daeRub your eyes and look again — someone’s ability has grown astonishingly.敎學相長 Gyo-hak-sang-jangTeaching and learning grow each other.多多益善 Da-da-ik-seonThe more, the better.聞一知十 Mun-il-ji-sipHear one thing and know ten — exceptional quickness of mind.格物致知 Gyeong-mul-chi-jiInvestigate things to reach knowledge.學而時習 Hak-i-si-seupLearn, and practise it in due time.
The idioms used in Korea mix phrases from the Chinese classics with ones coined in Korea. Where an expression is not used in China, the entry says so.