tyrant's dog barks at sage; lackey serves master
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a tyrant's dog barks at a wise ruler; a metaphor for a lackey serving his master blindly regardless of right or wrong
literaryFrom the Han Shu (Book of Han). Jie (桀) was the last tyrant of the Xia dynasty, while Yao (尧) was a legendary sage king. Originally from Zou Yang's letter from prison. Used to criticize those who serve evil masters against the good. Highly literary and formal register.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
jié桀
quǎn犬
fèi吠
yáo尧
de的
xíng行
wéi为
，
shí实
zài在
lìng令
rén人
bù不
chǐ齿
。
Such lackey behavior is truly despicable.
Tā他
bù不
guò过
shì是
jié桀
quǎn犬
fèi吠
yáo尧
，
wèi为
hǔ虎
zuò作
chāng伥
bà罢
le了
。
He's merely a minion serving his master, a jackal helping the tiger.
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Zài在
nà那
gè个
shí时
dài代
，
xǔ许
duō多
wén文
rén人
dōu都
bèi被
pò迫
jié桀
quǎn犬
fèi吠
yáo尧
。
In that era, many scholars were forced to serve as lackeys for the tyrant.