夜不閉戶

Chinese

night not; no
to close; stop up; shut
to close; stop up; shut; obstruct
 
a household; door; family
trad. (夜不閉戶)
simp. (夜不闭户)
alternative forms 夜不閉户
Literally: “No need to close the door at night to prevent thieves”.

Etymology

From Book of Rites:

不興盜竊不作外戶大同 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
不兴盗窃不作外户大同 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
Shì gù móu bì ér bùxìng, dàoqiè luàn zéi ér bùzuò, gù wàihù ér bù bì, shì wèi dàtóng. [Pinyin]
Therefore people don’t engage in intrigue or trickery, nor do they engage in robbery, theft, and rebellion. Thus, though people leave their houses they don’t close their doors. This is called “The Great Together”.[1]

Pronunciation


Idiom

夜不閉戶

  1. (figurative) The society is peaceful and thieves are gone.

Synonyms

  • 門不夜關门不夜关
  • 門不夜扃门不夜扃

References