无为而治
wú wéi ér zhì
to govern by not interfering
Character by character
无wú
no
no
为wéi
action
action
而ér
and yet
and yet
治zhì
govern
govern
Example
这位老板相信无为而治，很少管员工的具体工作。
This boss believes in governing by non-interference and rarely manages the details of his staff’s work.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
A Daoist ideal, but the phrase itself comes from the 《论语》, said of the sage-king 舜.
Learn this in Lesson 79 · HSK 6–7: 儒家、道家与法家 (Confucians, Daoists and Legalists)
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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