见义勇为jiàn yì yǒng wéi(idiom, from the Analects) (usu. of a passer-by who comes across a critical situation) to step in and help; to take brave or selfless action

1. 1.

   (idiom, from the Analects) (usu. of a passer-by who comes across a critical situation) to step in and help; to take brave or selfless actionidiom

Figurative meaning

To step in and help; to take brave or selfless action (usually of a passer-by who comes across a critical situation).

• 见to see
• 义justice
• 勇brave
• 为to do

The story

To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.

见义勇为 can work as a verb phrase or modify a noun with 的, as in 见义勇为的人.

1. HSK 5

   他看见有人掉进河里，马上跳下去救人，大家都说他见义勇为。

   Tā kànjiàn yǒu rén diào jìn hé li, mǎshàng tiào xiàqu jiù rén, dàjiā dōu shuō tā jiàn yì yǒng wéi.

   He saw someone fall into the river and jumped straight in to save them; everyone said he stepped in bravely to help.

2. HSK 5

   我们应该学习他见义勇为的精神。

   Wǒmen yīnggāi xuéxí tā jiàn yì yǒng wéi de jīngshén.

   We should learn from his spirit of stepping in to help.

3. HSK 3

   见义勇为的人应该得到大家的帮助。

   Jiàn yì yǒng wéi de rén yīnggāi dédào dàjiā de bāngzhù.

   People who take brave, selfless action should get everyone's help.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你看今天的新闻了吗？

   Nǐ kàn jīntiān de xīnwén le ma?

   Did you see today's news?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   看了，一个学生救了一个老人。

   Kàn le, yí ge xuésheng jiù le yí ge lǎorén.

   Yes, a student saved an old man.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   他不害怕吗？

   Tā bú hàipà ma?

   Wasn't he scared?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   他很勇敢，这就是见义勇为。

   Tā hěn yǒnggǎn, zhè jiù shì jiàn yì yǒng wéi.

   He was very brave. That's what stepping in to help means.

1. 1.What does 见义勇为 mean?

   ATo step in and help; to take brave or selfless actionBTo have a real impact on the peopleCExtortion and blackmail
2. 2.Which sentence uses 见义勇为 correctly?

   A我们应该学习他见义勇为的精神。B这个菜很见义勇为。C我见义勇为了一杯茶。
3. 3.Which word fits best? ____的人应该得到大家的帮助。 (People who take brave, selfless action should get everyone's help.)

   A见义勇为B深入人心C敲诈勒索

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Related idioms

• 显而易见xiǎn ér yì jiànclearly and easy to see (idiom); obviouslyHSK 7–9
• 一见钟情yī jiàn zhōng qíngto fall in love at first sightNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 屡见不鲜lǚ jiàn bù xiāna common occurrence (idiom)Not on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 指鹿为马zhǐ lù wéi mǎdeliberate misrepresentationNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.