瓜田李下
Chinese
melon patch simp. and trad.
(瓜田李下)瓜田 李下 variant forms 李下瓜田 Literally: “under a plum tree or in a melon patch”.
Etymology
Originates from a longer proverb 瓜田不納履，李下不整冠／瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠 (guātián bù nà lǚ, lǐxià bù zhěng guān), literally "do not put on shoes in a melon field; do not adjust your hat under a plum tree", advising one to avoid suspicion.
Pronunciation
Idiom
瓜田李下
- a position that invites suspicion; liable to lay oneself open to suspicion; be found in a suspicious position; in suspicious circumstances or surroundings
- an idiom advising one to avoid suspicious situations, even under innocuous circumstances
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