trouble arising from one's immediate vicinity; internal crisis
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
trouble arising from one's immediate vicinity; unexpected crisis occurring close at hand; mutiny by one's closest aides
literaryOriginally from historical texts (e.g., Records of the Three Kingdoms), describing rebellions or crises instigated by trusted subordinates or from within one's inner circle.
Zhǔ主
gōng公
xū需
fáng防
biàn变
shēng生
zhǒu肘
yè腋
，
jìn近
chén臣
zhī之
zhōng中
huò或
yǒu有
èr二
xīn心
zhě者
。
My lord must guard against trouble arising from within, for there may be disloyal ones among your close ministers.
Méi没
xiǎng想
dào到
biàn变
shēng生
zhǒu肘
yè腋
，
tā他
de的
qīn亲
xìn信
jìng竟
rán然
bèi背
pàn叛
le了
tā他
。
He never expected trouble to arise from his immediate circle; his trusted aide actually betrayed him.
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Gǔ古
dài代
dì帝
wáng王
zuì最
pà怕
de的
jiù就
shì是
biàn变
shēng生
zhǒu肘
yè腋
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
cháng常
shè设
jìn禁
jūn军
bǎo保
wèi卫
huáng皇
gōng宫
。
Ancient emperors feared most the crisis arising from within their immediate vicinity, so they often established imperial guards to protect the palace.