蓄须明志

Traditional form:

蓄鬚明志

Pinyin (reading):

xùxūmíngzhì

Definitions:

• to grow a beard as a symbol of one's determination (as Mei Lanfang 梅蘭芳／梅兰芳 ( Méi Lánfāng) growing a beard and refusing to perform for the Japanese)

Characters:

• 蓄 - to store, to save, to hoard, to gather
• 须 - beard; must; necessary
• 明 - bright, clear; to explain, to understand, to shed light
• 志 - determination, will; mark, sign; to record, to write

Traditional characters:

• 蓄 - to store, to save, to hoard, to gather
• 鬚 - beard; must; necessary
• 明 - bright, clear; to explain, to understand, to shed light
• 志 - determination, will; mark, sign; to record, to write