Chinese edit

Guan [Zhong] Bao [Shuya] 's to make friends
trad. (管鮑之交)
simp. (管鲍之交)

Etymology edit

From the Liezi:

:「窮困分財謀事窮困有利不利見逐不肖老母公子召忽幽囚受辱无恥小節天下父母!」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
:「穷困分财谋事穷困有利不利见逐不肖老母公子召忽幽囚受辱无耻小节天下父母!」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Liezi, 1st – 5th century CE
Guǎn Zhòng cháng tàn yuē: “Wú shào qióngkùn shí, cháng yǔ Bào Shū gǔ, fēncái duō zì yǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi tān zhī wǒ pín yě. Wú cháng wèi Bào Shū móushì ér dà qióngkùn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi yú, zhī shí yǒulì bùlì yě. Wú cháng sān shì, sān jiànzhú yú jūn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi bùxiào, zhī wǒ bù zāo shí yě. Wú cháng sān zhàn sān bèi, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi qiè, zhī wǒ yǒu lǎomǔ yě. Gōngzǐ Jiū bài, Zhàohū sǐ zhī, wú yōuqiú shòurǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi wúchǐ, zhī wǒ bù xiū xiǎojié, ér chǐ míng bù xiǎn yú tiānxià yě. Shēng wǒ zhě fùmǔ, zhī wǒ zhě Bào Shū yě!” [Pinyin]
Guan Zhong [a chancellor of the seventh-century B.C.E.] once sighed, saying: "When I was young and poor, I once did business with Bao Shu[ya] and gave the majority of the profits for myself, but Bao Shu did not think I was greedy; he understood that I was poor. I once planned for some affair with Bao Shu which ended in great disaster, but Bao Shu did not think that I was foolish; he understood that destiny can be favorable or unfavorable. I served thrice in the court and was exiled by my monarch thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was unworthy; he understood that I had not met with the times that were right for me. I fought in three battles and ran away thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was cowardly; he understood that I had an aged mother to care for. When Lord Jiu was defeated, Zhaohu died there while I suffered the disgrace of being imprisoned, but Bao Shu did not think that I was shameless; he understood that I was not ashamed over trifling matters, but was ashamed that my name might not be known to the world. It is my parents who have given birth to me, but it is Bao Shu who has understood me.

Pronunciation edit


Idiom edit

管鮑之交

  1. intimate friendship

Descendants edit

Sino-Xenic (管鮑之交):
  • Korean: 관포지교(管鮑之交) (gwanpojigyo)

Others: