諺語 · a single proverb
身正不怕影子斜
What does 身正不怕影子斜 (shēn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) mean?
身正不怕影子斜 (shēn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "if you stand straight, you need not fear a crooked shadow." In use it means: A person of integrity does not worry about false accusations; honest conduct is its own defense. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "if you stand straight, you need not fear a crooked shadow."
The reading
The shadow bends because the light comes from the side. The body is still straight. Rumors work the same way: the angle distorts, the source does not. If you know your conduct is clean, the distorted shadow is the light's problem, not yours. Stand straight and let the shadows do what they will.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; widely used across Chinese regions
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 身正不怕影子斜 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 身正不怕影子斜 (shēn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; widely used across Chinese regions. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 身正不怕影子斜?
In Mandarin it is shēn zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 身正不怕影子斜 aloud in Mandarin.