‘奋不顾身’ is a four-character idiom meaning to act with such courage and determination that one completely disregards personal safety—even risking one’s life. Literally, 奋 (fèn) means ‘to exert oneself vigorously,’ 不 (bù) is the negation ‘not,’ 顾 (gù) means ‘to attend to’ or ‘to care about,’ and 身 (shēn) means ‘body’ or ‘self.’ Together, they convey the idea of ‘exerting oneself without caring for one’s own body.’

This expression is highly formal and heroic in tone, commonly used in written Chinese, news reports, historical narratives, or speeches praising selfless bravery—especially in emergencies like rescues, firefighting, or wartime actions. It emphasizes moral conviction and sacrifice, not recklessness; the subject is always acting for a noble cause or to protect others.