desperate enemy; cornered foe
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
desperate enemy; cornered bandits; remnant foe at the end of their rope
literaryPrimarily used in military and strategic contexts, most famously in the idiom "穷寇莫追" (do not pursue a desperate enemy). Carries connotations of caution regarding enemies who have nothing left to lose.
Sūn孙
zǐ子
yuē曰
：
"
qióng穷
kòu寇
wù勿
pò迫
。
"
Sun Tzu said, "Do not press a desperate enemy too hard."
Zhè这
xiē些
cán残
bīng兵
bài败
jiàng将
yǐ已
chéng成
qióng穷
kòu寇
，
bù不
zú足
wéi为
jù惧
。
These defeated troops have become cornered enemies and are not to be feared.
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Qióng穷
kòu寇
mò莫
zhuī追
shì是
bīng兵
fǎ法
shàng上
de的
zhòng重
yào要
yuán原
zé则
。
Not pursuing desperate enemies is an important principle in the art of war.
Jǐn尽
guǎn管
shì是
qióng穷
kòu寇
，
wǒ我
men们
yě也
bù不
néng能
dà大
yì意
。
Even though they are desperate enemies, we cannot let our guard down.