When combined, the meaning is direct and powerful: 威武 (wēiwǔ), or “power and force,” 不 (bù) “cannot” make one 屈 (qū) “bend or submit.” It paints a picture of someone standing firm against a tidal wave of pressure.
The term 威武不屈 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, originating from a famous passage by the Confucian philosopher Mencius (孟子, Mèngzǐ). He defined a “great man” (大丈夫, dàzhàngfū) with three core characteristics:
富贵不能淫 (fùguì bùnéng yín) - Cannot be corrupted by wealth and high status.
贫贱不能移 (pínjiàn bùnéng yí) - Cannot be made to swerve from principle by poverty and lowliness.
威武不能屈 (wēiwǔ bùnéng qū) - Cannot be made to bend by power and force.
This idiom represents the pinnacle of Confucian integrity. It asserts that true strength is internal and moral, not external and physical. A person's character should be so solid that no amount of threat, bribery, or hardship can change their righteous path. A close Western concept is “principled stand” or “integrity,” but 威武不屈 has a stronger connotation of active resistance against an oppressive, powerful entity. While the West might celebrate an underdog who physically wins (like David vs. Goliath), Chinese culture places immense value on the *moral victory* of refusing to yield, even in defeat or death. This virtue is celebrated in countless historical figures, martyrs, and literary heroes who chose death over dishonor.
威武不屈 is a formal, highly laudatory, and somewhat literary term. You won't hear it used in casual, everyday chat about trivial matters.
It carries a very strong positive connotation and is a term of the highest respect.