假道伐虢
Chinese edit
to go by way of; to go via | (v) cut down; fell; (v) dispatch an expedition against (v) cut down; fell; (v) dispatch an expedition against; descend upon |
name of an ancient state | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (假道伐虢) | 假道 | 伐 | 虢 | |
simp. #(假道伐虢) | 假道 | 伐 | 虢 | |
Literally: “to obtain safe passage to conquer the State of Guo”. |
Etymology edit
From a historical event recorded in Zuo Zhuan.
《左傳·僖公二年》:
- 晉荀息請以屈產之乘,與垂棘之璧,假道於虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Jìn Xún Xī qǐng yǐ Qū chǎn zhī shèng, yǔ Chuí Jí zhī bì, jiǎdào yú Yú yǐ fá Guó. [Pinyin]
- Xun Xi of Jin requested leave from the marquis to take his team of Qu horses and his Bi of Chui Ji jade, and with them borrow a way from Yu to march through it and attack Guo
晋荀息请以屈产之乘,与垂棘之璧,假道于虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
《左傳·僖公五年》:
- 冬,十二月,丙子朔,晉滅虢,虢公醜奔京師。師還,館于虞,遂襲虞,滅之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Dōng, shí'èryuè, bǐngzǐ shuò, Jìn miè Guó, Guó gōng Chǒu bēn jīngshī. Shī huán, guǎn yú Yú, suì xí Yú, miè zhī. [Pinyin]
- In winter, in the 12th month, on bing-zi, the 1st day of the moon, Jin extinguished Guo, and Chou, the duke, fled to the capital. The army, on its return, took up its quarters in Yu, surprised the city, and extinguished the state.
冬,十二月,丙子朔,晋灭虢,虢公丑奔京师。师还,馆于虞,遂袭虞,灭之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation edit
Idiom edit
假道伐虢
- (figurative) to make peace with a smaller enemy and use it as a springboard to attack another common enemy, before turning on the first