三教九流 (sān jiào jiǔ liú) — the Three Doctrines (Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism) and the Nine Schools (ancient Chinese philosophical schools); (derogatory) people from all walks of life (especially disreputable or low-status people)
Definition
Literally 'the Three Doctrines and Nine Schools,' originally the major schools of ancient Chinese thought; now usually pejorative, meaning 'people of all sorts, riffraff.'
idiom
the Three Doctrines (Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism) and the Nine Schools (ancient Chinese philosophical schools)(derogatory) people from all walks of life (especially disreputable or low-status people)
Examples
- 三教九流、、。Gǔ dài sān jiào jiǔ liú zhǐ de shì rú jiào, dào jiào, fó jiào hé zhū zǐ bǎi jiā.In ancient times, the Three Doctrines and Nine Schools referred to Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought.
- ，三教九流，。Nà ge dì fāng yú lóng hùn zá, sān jiào jiǔ liú shén me yàng de rén dōu yǒu, nǐ zuì hǎo bié qù.That place is a mixed bag—all kinds of unsavory characters are there; you'd better not go.
- 三教九流，。Tā zhěng tiān gēn nà xiē sān jiào jiǔ liú hùn zài yì qǐ, nán guài xué huài le.He hangs out with that riffraff all day, no wonder he's gone bad.
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