武則天守寡——失去理智

Chinese

		Wu Zetian	to remain a widow; to live in widowhood		to lose	reason; intellect; reasonable reason; intellect; reasonable; rational
trad. (武則天守寡——失去理智)		武則天	守寡	——	失去	理智
simp. (武则天守寡——失去理智)		武则天	守寡	——	失去	理智
Literally: “When Wu Zetian became a widow - she had lost Li Zhi (her mind)”.

Etymology

Wu Zetian's husband was Emperor Gaozong of Tang, whose real name was 李治 (Lǐ Zhì) and is now homophonous to 理智 (lǐzhì) in Mandarin.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): Wǔ Zétiān shǒuguǎ, shīqù lǐzhì

  (Zhuyin): ㄨˇ ㄗㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄚˇ , ㄕ ㄑㄩˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓˋ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Wǔ Zétiān shǒuguǎ, shīqù lǐzhì [Phonetic: wǔzétiānshóuguǎ,shīqùlǐzhì]
    • Zhuyin: ㄨˇ ㄗㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄚˇ , ㄕ ㄑㄩˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Wǔ Zétian shǒuguǎ, shihcyù lǐjhìh
    • Wade–Giles: Wu³ Tsê²-tʻien¹ shou³-kua³, shih¹-chʻü⁴ li³-chih⁴
    • Yale: Wǔ Dzé-tyān shǒu-gwǎ-, shr̄-chyù lǐ-jr̀
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Wuu Tzertian shoougoa, shychiuh liijyh
    • Palladius: У Цзэтянь шоугуа, шицюй личжи (U Czɛtjanʹ šougua, šicjuj ličži)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

Idiom

武則天守寡——失去理智

1. (xiehouyu) to have lost one's mind