求仁得仁

Chinese

to seek; to look for; to request
to seek; to look for; to request; to demand; to beseech
 
 humane; kernel
get; obtain; gain
get; obtain; gain; proper; suitable; proud; contented; allow; permit; ready; finished; a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect; degree or possibility; to have to; must; ought to; to need to
 
 humane; kernel
simp. and trad.
(求仁得仁) 		求 仁 得 仁
Literally: “seek virtue and acquire it”.

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):

冉有曰：「夫子為衛君乎？」子貢曰：「諾。吾將問之。」入，曰：「伯夷、叔齊何人也？」曰：「古之賢人也。」曰：「怨乎？」曰：「求仁而得仁，又何怨？」出，曰：「夫子不為也。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
冉有曰：「夫子为卫君乎？」子贡曰：「诺。吾将问之。」入，曰：「伯夷、叔齐何人也？」曰：「古之贤人也。」曰：「怨乎？」曰：「求仁而得仁，又何怨？」出，曰：「夫子不为也。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rǎn Yǒu yuē: “Fūzǐ wèi Wèi jūn hū?” Zǐgòng yuē: “Nuò. Wú jiāng wèn zhī.” Rù, yuē: “Bóyí, Shūqí hérén yě?” Yuē: “Gǔ zhī xiánrén yě.” Yuē: “Yuàn hū?” Yuē: “Qiú rén ér dé rén, yòu hé yuàn?” Chū, yuē: “Fūzǐ bù wèi yě.” [Pinyin]
Ran You said, "Is our Master for the ruler of Wei?" Zigong said, "Oh! I will ask him." He went in accordingly, and said, "What sort of men were Boyi and Shuqi?" "They were ancient worthies," said the Master. "Did they have any repinings because of their course?" The Master again replied, "They sought to act virtuously, and they did so; what was there for them to repine about?" On this, Zigong went out and said, "Our Master is not for him."

Pronunciation

Idiom

求仁得仁

  1. to have one's wish fulfilled

Usage notes

This idiom is often used sarcastically nowadays.

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