| 明哲保身 |
míng zhé bǎo shēn |
a wise man looks after his own hide (idiom) / to put one's own safety before matters of principle |
| 明 |
Míng |
Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝 descended from Shennong 神农 Farmer God |
| 明 |
míng |
bright / opposite: dark 暗 / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods |
| 哲 |
zhé |
wise / a sage |
| 保 |
Bǎo |
Bulgaria (abbr. for 保加利亚) |
| 保 |
bǎo |
to defend; to protect; to keep / to guarantee; to ensure / (old) civil administration unit in the baojia 保甲 system |
| 身 |
shēn |
body / life / oneself / personally / one's morality and conduct / the main part of a structure or body / pregnant / classifier for sets of clothes: suit, twinset / Kangxi radical 158 |