treacherous hero; unscrupulous power-grabber
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a person who uses treacherous or cunning means to seize high power and position; an unscrupulous schemer
Historically used to describe warlords or politicians in chaotic times (e.g., Cao Cao was often labeled a 奸雄). The term combines the negative connotation of 奸 (treachery) with the positive connotation of 雄 (hero), implying a Machiavellian figure who achieves greatness through ruthless cunning.
Cáo曹
Cāo操
bèi被
chuán传
tǒng统
shǐ史
xué学
shì视
wéi为
luàn乱
shì世
jiān奸
xióng雄
。
Cao Cao was regarded by traditional historians as a treacherous hero of chaotic times.
Tā他
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
shì是
gè个
yīng英
xióng雄
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
shì是
gè个
jiān奸
xióng雄
。
He appears to be a hero on the surface, but is actually an unscrupulous schemer.
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Luàn乱
shì世
jiān奸
xióng雄
wǎng往
wǎng往
bǐ比
zhōng忠
chén臣
gèng更
néng能
chéng成
jiù就
bà霸
yè业
。
Treacherous heroes in chaotic times are often more capable of achieving hegemony than loyal ministers.
Lì历
shǐ史
píng评
jià价
zhōng中
，
jiān奸
xióng雄
yǔ与
xiāo枭
xióng雄
cháng常
cháng常
nán难
yǐ以
qū区
fēn分
。
In historical evaluations, treacherous heroes and ambitious heroes are often difficult to distinguish.