文质彬彬·每日好词语｜韬光养晦

整理/王璟瑄 制图/汪琪（实习生）

韬光养晦

　　隐己之长，补己之短。“韬光”即收敛自己的光芒，指不以自身优长而炫耀、张扬；“养”即修养、培养；“晦”即昏暗不明，与“光”相对，比喻自身的劣势、短处；“养晦”指加强修养，弥补自身不足。此语体现了中国人低调、内敛，注重自我完善和发展的精神气质。

Keep a Low Profile

　　This term means not to publicize one's strong points but to make up for one's weak points. Taoguang(韬光) means not to advertise one's strong points, and never boast about or show off one's talent or skills.Yang(养) means cultivation while hui(晦) means dimness, indicating weakness or disadvantage. Yanghui(养晦) means to strengthen one's cultivation and offset one's weaknesses. This term shows that the Chinese people uphold modesty, restraint, self-cultivation, and self-enhancement.

引例

　　圣人卑谦，清静辞让者见下也，虚心无有者见不足也，见下故能致其高，见不足故能成其贤。（《文子·九守》）（圣明的人很谦卑，生性清静谦让的人看自己总是很低，虚心而不以为什么都懂的人总看到自己的不足，看自己很低反而能实现更高的目标，觉得自己不足的人反而能成就高尚的品德。）

　　A noble person is humble. A sedate and modest person always keeps a low profile, and is aware of his own weaknesses. A person who keeps a low profile may be able to reach high goals. A person who is aware of his own weaknesses may be able to accomplish high morality. (Wenzi)