How do you use 鞠躬尽瘁 in a sentence?
Even when he was seriously ill, the minister kept working late to prepare plans for the country; people said he truly devoted himself completely until the very end.
那位大臣即使病得很重，仍然夜夜为国家拟定方案；人们都说他真是鞠躬尽瘁。
Our principal devoted herself completely to the school for thirty years, caring about every student and teacher.
我们的校长三十年来为学校鞠躬尽瘁，关心每一位学生和老师。
The rescue team leader devoted himself completely during the flood, staying on duty day and night to keep villagers safe.
洪水期间，救援队队长为了村民的安全日夜坚守岗位，真可说是鞠躬尽瘁。
When does it fit — and when doesn't it?
✓ Fits
Zhuge Liang knew he was running out of time, yet he still wrote military plans and advice for the young emperor, devoting himself completely until the very end.
诸葛亮明知自己时日无多，却仍写下军务安排和给幼主的劝诫，真是鞠躬尽瘁。
✗ Doesn't fit
I stayed up late finishing my video game, so I was really devoting myself completely.
我熬夜打完电子游戏，真算得上鞠躬尽瘁。
Why?
The idiom is used for selfless devotion to an important duty or cause, not for personal hobbies or entertainment.
这个成语形容的是对重要职责或事业无私奉献，不适合用来形容个人爱好或娱乐活动。
Common mistake
Using the idiom for any kind of hard work, even when the task is small, temporary, or mainly for oneself.
把这个成语随便用在任何辛苦的事情上，哪怕事情很小、很短暂，或主要是为了自己。
Correction
Use it for someone who gives everything to a serious responsibility, cause, or group over time, often with a sense of loyalty and sacrifice.
它应该用来形容一个人长期为了重大的责任、事业或集体尽心竭力，常带有忠诚和奉献的意味。
Why does this error happen?
This error happens because learners focus only on the idea of 'working very hard' and forget the idiom's deeper meaning of selfless dedication.
What do exams test about this idiom?
In PSLE or HSK-style questions, this idiom is usually tested for its positive meaning of loyal, selfless devotion to a duty or cause, and for choosing contexts where that meaning truly fits.
小测验 · Quick Quiz
Test your understanding
1. What does 鞠躬尽瘁 mean?
鞠躬尽瘁是什么意思？
To bow respectfully and follow orders without ever questioning your leader
恭敬地俯首，不问是非地服从领袖的命令
To share the workload equally so that no single person becomes exhausted
平均分担工作，让每个人都不至于精疲力竭
To devote oneself completely, holding nothing back — to give everything to a duty until the very end
全身心投入，毫无保留——将一切献给职责，直到最后一刻
2. In the story, what were the two kinds of documents on Zhuge Liang's desk?
故事中，诸葛亮桌上放着哪两种文书？
Letters to enemy kingdoms and maps for the next campaign
写给敌国的书信和下一次征战的地图
Battle orders and advice written personally for the young emperor
作战命令，以及亲笔写给年轻皇帝的谏言
Plans for new city walls and harvest records for the Shu region
新城墙的建设方案和蜀地的粮食收成记录
3. Which sentence uses 鞠躬尽瘁 correctly?
哪个句子正确地使用了鞠躬尽瘁？
Even when seriously ill, the minister kept working late to prepare plans for the country — he truly 鞠躬尽瘁.
即使身患重病，那位大臣依然深夜伏案，为国家谋划——他真正做到了鞠躬尽瘁。
I stayed up late to finish my video game — that was 鞠躬尽瘁.
我熬夜打完了电子游戏——这就是鞠躬尽瘁。
She rehearsed her speech twice in front of the mirror — that was 鞠躬尽瘁.
她对着镜子练了两遍演讲——这就是鞠躬尽瘁。
Answers: 1C · 2B · 3A
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智慧典故系列 · Wisdom Series · Tales of China