niè'ér​bù​zī

rise above a bad environment

Senses

涅而不缁/ 涅而不緇 niè'ér​bù​zī rise above a bad environment

Literally meaning that something truly white will not be turned black even by dye; describes a person of integrity who remains untarnished despite being in a corrupt or bad environment

References

synonym 涅而不缁/涅而不緇 磨而不磷/磨而不磷