echo each other; work in close coordination
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to echo each other; to work in close coordination; to respond in perfect harmony
literaryOriginally from the Book of Later Han (《后汉书》), describing how a drum responds instantly to the drumstick. Used to describe seamless cooperation between two parties, often in military, political, or teamwork contexts. Can function as predicate, attributive, or adverbial.
Zhàn战
chǎng场
shàng上
，
wǒ我
jūn军
gè各
bù部
fú桴
gǔ鼓
xiāng相
yìng应
，
xùn迅
sù速
jī击
kuì溃
le了
dí敌
rén人
。
On the battlefield, every unit of our army worked in close coordination and swiftly routed the enemy.
Zhè这
liǎng两
wèi位
yǎn演
yuán员
zài在
wǔ舞
tái台
shàng上
fú桴
gǔ鼓
xiāng相
yìng应
，
pèi配
hé合
de得
tiān天
yī衣
wú无
fèng缝
。
These two actors echoed each other perfectly on stage, cooperating seamlessly.
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Zhǐ只
yǒu有
qián前
hòu后
fāng方
fú桴
gǔ鼓
xiāng相
yìng应
，
cái才
néng能
qǔ取
dé得
zhè这
chǎng场
zhàn战
yì役
de的
shèng胜
lì利
。
Only when the front and rear work in close coordination can we achieve victory in this campaign.