Chinese

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to use; according to; so as to
to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with; because; Israel (abbrev.)
 
neighbour; adjacent; close to
because of; for; to
because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become
 
gully
trad. (以鄰為壑)
simp. (以邻为壑)
Literally: “use the neighbour's field as an outlet for one's overflow”.

Etymology

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From Mencius (《孟子·告子下》):

治水是故四海吾子為壑 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
治水是故四海吾子为壑 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǔ zhī zhìshuǐ, shuǐ zhī dào yě. Shìgù Yǔ yǐ sìhǎi wéi hè, jīn wúzǐ yǐ línguó wéi hè. [Pinyin]
Yu's regulation of the waters was according to the laws of water. He therefore made the four seas their receptacle, while you make the neighbouring States their receptacle.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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以鄰為壑

  1. (figuratively) to benefit oneself at others' expense