thorn in the flesh; bitter enemy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a thorn in the flesh; something one hates most and is eager to remove
Often used in the set phrase 眼中钉，肉中刺 (literally 'a nail in the eye and a thorn in the flesh') to describe a bitter enemy or someone deeply hated.
Tā他
shì是
wǒ我
de的
yǎn眼
zhōng中
dīng钉
，
ròu肉
zhōng中
cì刺
。
He is my bitter enemy, a thorn in my side.
Zhè这
ge个
fǔ腐
bài败
de的
guān官
yuán员
zǎo早
jiù就
chéng成
le了
lǎo老
bǎi百
xìng姓
ròu肉
zhōng中
cì刺
。
This corrupt official has long been a thorn in the flesh of the common people.
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Duì对
tā他
men们
lái来
shuō说
，
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
jiù就
shì是
ròu肉
zhōng中
cì刺
，
bì必
xū须
jǐn尽
kuài快
chú除
diào掉
。
For them, the competitor is a thorn in their side that must be removed as soon as possible.