mythical insect; metaphor for an insatiably greedy person
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 2 examplesnoun
a mythical insect that loves to carry heavy loads; metaphor for a greedy person
literaryThis term originates from a Tang Dynasty allegory by Liu Zongyuan. It is primarily used in literary contexts or as a learned allusion to criticize greed.
Liǔ柳
Zōng宗
yuán元
zài在
《
Fù𮔅
bǎn蝂
zhuàn传
》
zhōng中
，
jiè借
fù𮔅
bǎn蝂
fěng讽
cì刺
nà那
xiē些
tān贪
dé得
wú无
yàn厌
de的
guān官
lì吏
。
In his allegory 'The Biography of the Fuban Insect', Liu Zongyuan used the fuban to satirize those insatiably greedy officials.
Tā他
jiù就
xiàng像
yù寓
yán言
lǐ里
de的
fù𮔅
bǎn蝂
，
bù不
tíng停
de地
wǎng往
shēn身
shang上
jiā加
mǎ码
，
zuì最
zhōng终
bèi被
yā压
kuǎ垮
。
He is just like the fuban insect from the fable, constantly adding burdens to himself until he is finally crushed.