曾參殺人

Chinese

Zeng Shen to kill someone; to murder
trad. (曾參殺人) 曾參 殺人
simp. (曾参杀人) 曾参 杀人

Etymology

A tale in Zhan Guo Ce:

昔者曾子處費，費人有與曾子同名族者而殺人，人告曾子母曰：「曾參殺人。』曾子之母曰：『吾子不殺人。』置自若。有頃焉，人又曰：『曾參殺人。』其母尚置自若也。頃之，一人又告之曰：『曾參殺人。』其母懼，投杼踰牆而走。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
昔者曾子处费，费人有与曾子同名族者而杀人，人告曾子母曰：「曾参杀人。』曾子之母曰：『吾子不杀人。』置自若。有顷焉，人又曰：『曾参杀人。』其母尚置自若也。顷之，一人又告之曰：『曾参杀人。』其母惧，投杼逾墙而走。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5th – 3rd centuries BCE
Xīzhě Zēngzǐ chǔ Bì, Bì rén yǒu yǔ Zēngzǐ tóng míngzú zhě ér shārén, rén gào Zēngzǐ mǔ yuē: “Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Zēngzǐ zhī mǔ yuē: ‘Wú zǐ bù shārén.’ Zhì zìruò. Yǒuqǐng yān, rén yòu yuē: ‘Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Qí mǔ shàng zhì zìruò yě. Qǐngzhī, yīrén yòu gào zhī yuē: ‘Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Qí mǔ jù, tóu zhù yú qiáng ér zǒu. [Pinyin]
In the past, when Zengzi (real name Zeng Shen) was living in Fei County, there was a man with the same name as him who committed murder. Somebody informed Zengzi’s mother, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” Zengzi's mother replied, “My son will never commit a murder,” and she kept calm as though nothing happened. A short while later, another person informed her, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” She still stayed composed. Shortly afterwards, yet another person informed her, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” Zengzi's mother feared, cast aside her weaving shuttle, leapt across the walls, and fled.

Pronunciation

Idiom

曾參殺人

  1. Used as an example to show that the effects of rumours can be fearsome.
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