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清濁併せ呑む (せいだくあわせのむ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-mu)
broad-minded ; accepting all kinds of people
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to be tolerant and open-minded enough to get along with people of all types, including both good and bad. Often used to describe a leader or person of great character.
A leader needs the magnanimity to accept all kinds of people.
Written forms 清せい 濁だく 併あわ せ 呑の む
Standard kanji form for this idiomatic expression.
清せい 濁だく 併あわ せのむ
Variant with 呑む written in kana; common in modern usage.
Kanji 濁 voiced, uncleanness, wrong 併 join, get together, unite Similar words 度ど 量りょう が 大おお きい Describes a person as magnanimous or generous in general, while 清濁併せ呑む specifically emphasizes accepting both good and bad people or things.
寛かん 容よう Means tolerance or leniency, often toward opinions or behaviors, but lacks the vivid imagery of 'swallowing both pure and impure'.
Etymology Literally 'to swallow both the pure and the muddy,' from 清 (pure) + 濁 (impure) + 併せ (together) + 呑む (to swallow). The phrase is a classical metaphor for accepting all things, good and bad, without discrimination.
