TongTong
Sign in

置身事外 (zhì shēn shì wài) — (idiom) to stay aloof from a matter; to remain uninvolved

Definition

An idiom meaning 'to stand aloof from a situation' — deliberately keeping oneself uninvolved rather than being ignorant. Implies a conscious choice to distance oneself, often carrying a negative judgment when the issue requires one's responsibility.

idiom
to stay aloof from a matterto remain uninvolved

Examples

  • ，置身事外。
    Tā bù xiǎng cān yù zhè jiàn shì, xuǎn zé zhì shēn shì wài.
    He didn't want to get involved in this matter and chose to stay aloof.
  • ，置身事外。
    Miàn duì zhè ge zhēng lùn, tā shǐ zhōng zhì shēn shì wài.
    Facing this debate, he remained aloof throughout.
  • ，置身事外。
    Gōng sī nèi bù de wèn tí, guǎn lǐ céng bù néng zhì shēn shì wài.
    For internal company problems, management cannot stay aloof.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
罒Written in full as网wǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí置zhì
Same sound today

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

Open 置 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卜卜bǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
月
月yuè外wài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Open 外 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.