捨生取義 shě shēng qǔ yì

would rather sacrifice one's life than one's principles

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. would rather sacrifice one's life than one's principles
  2. 2. to give up life for righteousness (idiom, from Mencius); to choose honor over life

Characters

Character Meaning
捨 shě
to give up; to abandon; to give alms
生 shēng HSK 1
life; to be born; raw
取 qǔ HSK 4
to take; to get; to choose
義 yì
meaning; righteousness; justice