let bygones be bygones(jì wǎng bù jiù)

let bygones be bygones

Let bygones be bygones, Chinese idiom, Pinyin is j ì w ǎù NGB ù Ji ù, meaning originally refers to what has been done or done, there is no need to blame; now refers to the past fault no longer blame. From the Analects of Confucius, Bayi.

The origin of Idioms

In the Analects of Confucius, Bayi said, "if you don't say what you have done, then you don't remonstrate. Let bygones be bygones."

Idiom usage

It refers to not blaming the past mistakes. Let bygones be bygones and be careful when you do things later. The 13th chapter of the history of pain by Wu Jianren in Qing Dynasty

Analysis of Idioms

Pay attention to the past

Idiom story

In the spring and Autumn period, Duke AI of Lu asked Confucius' disciple Zai I what kind of trees he used to make the God of land. Zai I answered that people in the Xia Dynasty used pine, people in the Yin Dynasty used cypress, and people in the Zhou Dynasty used chestnut. Confucius was very dissatisfied when he heard this answer. He blamed Zai and said, "if you don't tell me what's done, then you don't remonstrate. Let bygones be bygones." in the spring and Autumn period, Duke AI of Lu attached great importance to the sacrifice of land God. When the country was invaded by foreign enemies and sent troops to fight, he also took the tablet of the God of land with him. He thinks that the God of land has a strong dominant role in all national affairs, so he is very devout and respectful to it. Since we want to sacrifice the God of earth, we need to set up a wooden memorial tablet for it. But what kind of wood is better for the memorial tablet? This problem baffled Lu AI Gong. One day, Duke AI of Lu sent for Confucius' student to kill me and asked, "what is the best wood for the memorial tablet of the land God?" without thinking, I replied, "pine was used in the Xia Dynasty, cypress was used in the Yin Dynasty, and chestnut was used in the Zhou Dynasty.". Later, when Confucius learned about it, he thought that Zai's reply was ridiculous and groundless, so he called him in for severe criticism and education. Confucius said to me earnestly: don't explain what you have done; don't admonish what you have done; don't blame what you have done. (the original text says: "if you don't say what you've done, then you don't remonstrate. Let bygones be bygones." ）In the future, you must be careful when you speak, especially in front of the monarch. Otherwise, once you say it, it's too late to regret.

Chinese PinYin : jì wǎng bù jiù