负荆请罪
- Literal
- to carry a bramble rod on one's back to ask for punishment
- Figurative
- To humbly admit one's fault and sincerely apologize, offering oneself for punishment.
Where does 负荆请罪 come from?
After returning the jade to Zhao, Lin Xiangru was promoted above the veteran general Lian Po, who felt humiliated and vowed to shame him. Lin Xiangru kept avoiding him, not out of fear, but to keep two key servants of the state from clashing while Qin threatened Zhao. On learning this, a remorseful Lian Po bared his torso and came to Lin Xiangru's house carrying a bramble rod on his back to beg for punishment; the two were reconciled as close friends.
Source (出处): 《史记》
How is 负荆请罪 used? Two examples
- 意识到错怪了同事，他第二天就登门负荆请罪。
Realizing he had wrongly blamed his colleague, the next day he went to his house to humbly apologize.
- 既然是你不对，就该主动向她负荆请罪。
Since you were in the wrong, you should take the initiative to sincerely apologize to her.
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