# 开门揖盗

kāi mén yī dào

Invite harm through careless openness

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Open the door and welcome a thief

**Traditional Chinese:** 開門揖盜

**Register:** Cautionary · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Warn about giving wrongdoers easy access.

Openness itself is not always unsafe.

## Understanding the expression

A thief usually has to find a way inside, but the imagined host removes the obstacle and even welcomes them. The expression criticizes actions that make harmful access easier. Modern use suits poor security, careless trust, or rules that let known offenders operate freely. It is stronger than a minor oversight. The relevant danger should be clear, because helpful openness and cooperation should not automatically be treated as inviting disaster.

## Examples

把密码公开，无异于开门揖盗。

### Traditional Chinese

把密碼公開，無異於開門揖盜。

bǎ mì mǎ gōng kāi ， wú yì yú kāi mén yī dào 。

Publishing the password effectively invites wrongdoing.

不审查来客身份，可能开门揖盗。

### Traditional Chinese

不審查來客身份，可能開門揖盜。

bù shěn chá lái kè shēn fèn ， kě néng kāi mén yī dào 。

Failing to verify visitors may invite harm.

她提醒大家别开门揖盗。

### Traditional Chinese

她提醒大家別開門揖盜。

tā tí xǐng dà jiā bié kāi mén yī dào 。

She warned everyone not to give wrongdoers easy access.

任由骗子进群，是开门揖盗。

### Traditional Chinese

任由騙子進群，是開門揖盜。

rèn yóu piàn zi jìn qún ， shì kāi mén yī dào 。

Letting fraudsters join the group invites harm.

## 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=%E9%96%8B%E9%96%80%E6%8F%96%E7%9B%9C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=259&webMd=1&la=0)

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