Lingaku- lit. a nobleman stays clear of the kitchen (idiom, from Mencius)
- fig. a nobleman who has seen a living animal cannot bear to see it die, hence he keeps away from the kitchen
Generated: This idiom conveys the idea that a person of noble character avoids situations that involve moral compromise or unethical behavior, particularly ones that involve hurting others. It reflects a sensitivity to the suffering of living beings.
A nobleman, after seeing a living creature, does not wish to witness its slaughter.