"Tou bi cong rong" literally means "to throw away the brush and join the army," referring to a scholar abandoning a civil career to take up military service—that is, forsaking letters for arms. This idiom originates from the Book of the Later Han: The Biography of Ban Chao. Ban Chao's family was poor in his early years, and he made a living by copying documents for the government. He once threw down his brush and sighed: "A true man should emulate Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian, who won merit in foreign lands and thereby obtained noble titles—how can he long remain occupied with brush and inkstone?" He was later sent on a mission to the Western Regions, where he achieved brilliant military exploits. This idiom is often used to describe intellectuals who, when the nation is in peril or when called by the times, resolutely abandon a comfortable life of letters and choose to join the army to serve the country. It embodies a strong patriotic sentiment and a spirit of responsibility, carries a positive connotation, and is mostly used to praise those with lofty aspirations and the courage to act. Its contexts of use include describing historical figures, veterans who have changed careers in real life, or metaphorically referring to someone who gives up an original field to move into more challenging work. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the Chinese scholar's value that "the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every individual," as well as the ideal of being versed in both civil and military affairs and ready to serve the country at any time.
📝 Example
1. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, many young students threw down their pens and took up arms, rushing to the front lines to defend their homeland with their blood. (Referring to giving up their studies to join the army and resist the Japanese invaders.)
2. He was originally an excellent programmer, but he threw down his pen and joined the peacekeeping forces, fulfilling his childhood dream of military life. (Referring to giving up one's original profession to join the military.)