chū​yū​ní'ér​bù​rǎn

to remain pure in a corrupt environment

Senses

出淤泥而不染 chū​yū​ní'ér​bù​rǎn (also chū​wū​ní'ér​bù​rǎn) to remain pure in a corrupt environment

Literally "to grow out of the mud unsullied"; describes someone who remains principled and incorruptible despite their surroundings, originally referring to the lotus flower.

References

see 出淤泥而不染/出淤泥而不染 爱莲说/愛蓮說