淡泊名利
dàn bó míng lì
to care nothing for fame or wealth
Character by character
淡dàn
plain
plain
泊bó
calm
calm
名míng
fame
fame
利lì
gain
gain
Example
他一生淡泊名利，退休后把奖金全部捐给了家乡的学校。
He cared nothing for fame or money all his life, and after he retired gave all his prize money to the school in his home town.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
淡泊 is calm indifference, as in 诸葛亮’s line 非淡泊无以明志 (without indifference to gain one cannot keep one’s purpose clear). Praise for scholars, artists and scientists; often 一生淡泊名利 or 淡泊名利的人.
Learn this in Lesson 127 · HSK 7–9: 送别袁隆平 (Obituary: farewell to Yuan Longping)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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