bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring; once-bitten person
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
bird startled by the bow; person easily frightened
literaryUsed to describe someone who, having suffered a trauma, remains extremely fearful and jumpy. Classical idiom from the ancient story of a master archer who could drop a bird just by plucking his bowstring, as the bird was already wounded.
Jīng经
guò过
shàng上
cì次
de的
shī失
bài败
，
tā他
xiàn现
zài在
jiù就
xiàng像
yī一
zhī只
jīng惊
gōng弓
zhī之
niǎo鸟
，
rèn任
hé何
fēng风
chuī吹
cǎo草
dòng动
dōu都
ràng让
tā他
jǐn紧
zhāng张
。
After the last failure, he's now like a bird startled by a bow; any slight movement makes him nervous.
Zài在
jīng经
lì历
le了
nà那
cì次
shì事
gù故
hòu后
，
tā他
duì对
lèi类
sì似
de的
shēng声
yīn音
dōu都
chǎn产
shēng生
le了
jīng惊
gōng弓
zhī之
niǎo鸟
bān般
de的
fǎn反
yìng应
。
After experiencing that accident, he reacts like a startled bird to any similar sounds.
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Gōng公
sī司
shàng上
cì次
cái裁
yuán员
hòu后
，
yuán员
gōng工
men们
dōu都
chéng成
le了
jīng惊
gōng弓
zhī之
niǎo鸟
，
yī一
yǒu有
huì会
yì议
tōng通
zhī知
jiù就
rén人
xīn心
huáng惶
huáng惶
。
After the last round of layoffs, the employees have become like startled birds; any meeting notice causes panic.
Zhè这
zhī只
māo猫
céng曾
bèi被
gǒu狗
zhuī追
guò过
，
xiàn现
zài在
yī一
jiàn见
dào到
gǒu狗
de的
yǐng影
zi子
jiù就
rú如
jīng惊
gōng弓
zhī之
niǎo鸟
bān般
táo逃
cuàn窜
。
This cat was once chased by a dog; now, at the mere shadow of a dog, it flees like a startled bird.