zēngmǔtóuzhù
even a mother will eventually believe rumors against her own son
曾母投杼 zēngmǔtóuzhù
- even a mother will eventually believe rumors against her own son
- (literary) Even the strongest confidence can be shaken by persistent rumors; literally "Zeng's mother threw down her shuttle". References the story of 曾参 zēngshēn's mother who, despite her son's virtue, eventually believed reports he was a murderer and fled her loom.