# 大义灭亲

dà yì miè qīn

Uphold justice despite family ties

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Put righteousness above kinship

**Traditional Chinese:** 大義滅親

**Register:** Solemn · formal

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe refusing to shield relatives from serious wrongdoing.

Does not mean rejecting family over minor disputes.

## Understanding the expression

Family loyalty can conflict with a wider duty to truth or justice. The expression describes choosing that duty when a relative has done something seriously wrong. Modern use often concerns reporting misconduct or refusing favoritism. Its tone is solemn and morally approving. It does not demand harshness for its own sake. Fair procedures and proportionate consequences still matter, even when a person refuses to protect a loved one from accountability.

## Examples

他大义灭亲，举报亲属造假。

### Traditional Chinese

他大義滅親，舉報親屬造假。

tā dà yì miè qīn ， jǔ bào qīn shǔ zào jiǎ 。

He put justice above kinship and reported a relative's fraud.

她拒绝包庇弟弟，被称为大义灭亲。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕包庇弟弟，被稱為大義滅親。

tā jù jué bāo bì dì di ， bèi chēng wéi dà yì miè qīn 。

Her refusal to shield her brother was praised as principled.

小说讨论大义灭亲的艰难选择。

### Traditional Chinese

小說討論大義滅親的艱難選擇。

xiǎo shuō tǎo lùn dà yì miè qīn de jiān nán xuǎn zé 。

The novel explores the difficult choice of justice over family.

这不是家务争执，而是大义灭亲。

### Traditional Chinese

這不是家務爭執，而是大義滅親。

zhè bú shì jiā wù zhēng zhí ， ér shì dà yì miè qīn 。

This is justice over kinship, not a household disagreement.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A7%E7%BE%A9%E6%BB%85%E8%A6%AA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=175&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [当仁不让 dāng rén bù ràng Take responsibility without stepping aside ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dang-ren-bu-rang)

- [道貌岸然 dào mào àn rán Appear solemnly respectable while concealing hypocrisy ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dao-mao-an-ran)

- [得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chǐ Demand more after receiving a concession ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/de-cun-jin-chi)

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