Mencius

American  

[men-shee-uhs] / ˈmɛn ʃi əs /

(Older Spellings) Mengtse,

noun

1. c380–289 b.c., Chinese philosopher.

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Mencius British  

/ ˈmɛnʃɪəs, -ʃəs /

noun

1. Chinese name Mengzi or Meng-tze. ?372–?289 _bc , Chinese philosopher, who propounded the ethical system of Confucius

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Etymology

Origin of Mencius

First recorded in 1770–80; Latinization of Chinese Mèng Zǐ “Master Meng” (birth name Mèng Kē) by European Jesuits in China in the 17th century

Example Sentences

In interviews with state media, I-Soon’s CEO Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with China’s national interest.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024

Mr. Bao recalled reading “The Observer,” an influential liberal magazine, as well as Mencius, the ancient Chinese sage, who, he said, “made me understand that people should treat other people also as people.”

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2022

By contrast with Mencius, Xunzi held that human beings have an innately detestable nature but that they have the capacity to become good through artifice—that is, by acquiring traits and habits through deliberate action.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Mencius said that a man of wisdom does not stand next to a wall that is about to topple.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 4, 2019

She was the cause of the fall of the dynasty, a dynasty in which was enshrined the great names of Confucius, Mencius, Tau-tze the founder of Tauism, and Wu Wang.

From Sidelights on Chinese Life by Macgowan, J. (John)