溫故知新 Old wisdom, today’s insight — ONGO
안빈낙도 安貧樂道
Finding inner peace and contentment in a simple, modest lifestyle, prioritizing spiritual and moral values over material wealth.
안빈낙도 (安貧樂道) means "Finding inner peace and contentment in a simple, modest lifestyle, prioritizing spiritual and moral values over material wealth.". The origins of this idiom can be found in the 'Analects' of Confucius. Confucius highly praised his
1 Meaning
안빈낙도 (安貧樂道) means “Finding inner peace and contentment in a simple, modest lifestyle, prioritizing spiritual and moral values over material wealth.”.
An-bin-nak-do (安貧樂道) describes an attitude of maintaining a peaceful mind despite poverty and finding joy in the 'Way' (Dao). It emphasizes spiritual values and inner peace over material abundance.
The Western Equivalent
“Contentment is true wealth”
Similar in spirit. "At peace in poverty, delighting in the Way" values a simple, principled life over riches, close to "contentment is true wealth" or "enough is as good as a feast." The Confucian original adds a devotion to moral principle that the English sayings do not name.
2 Examples
Being offered a high-paying corporate role that requires intense competition and constant overtime.
Choosing a job with a manageable workload to prioritize personal leisure and simple dinners with family.
Living in a society constantly flooded with the latest luxury trends and expensive electronic gadgets.
Ignoring the pressure to upgrade and instead finding deep satisfaction in repairing and treasuring long-held personal items.
Seeing social media feeds filled with other people's glamorous and expensive vacation photos.
Spending a peaceful weekend at home reading a favorite book and enjoying a quiet cup of tea.
Which situation fits this idiom?
Pick the everyday scene where “안빈낙도” fits best.
3 Origin
4 Key Lessons
True happiness stems from internal contentment rather than external material conditions.
It is vital to maintain your own rhythm without being swept away by the speed of the world.
Sufficient joy and value can be discovered even within the simplest of daily routines.
5 English Expression
English Vocabulary
creeping
살금살금 움직이는, 스며드는
"The fog was creeping across the valley."
snitch
밀고자, 고자질쟁이
"Nobody likes a snitch who tells on their friends."
pitch
권유, 말솜씨, 속셈
"The salesman gave a high-pressure sales pitch."
empire
제국
"She built a business empire from scratch."
6 Learn with Music
Related Idioms
안빈낙도
Memorize idiom meanings and examples with various music genres
Listen to Track