play with fire and get burnt; self-destruct; reap what one sows
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to play with fire and burn oneself; to engage in risky or harmful activities that ultimately backfire and harm oneself
neutralA chengyu used to warn against dangerous, malicious, or reckless behavior that results in self-destruction. The literal image is of playing with fire and getting burned.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
jì继
xù续
qī欺
piàn骗
bié别
rén人
，
zuì最
zhōng终
huì会
wán玩
huǒ火
zì自
fén焚
。
If you continue to deceive others, you will eventually play with fire and burn yourself.
Tā他
shì试
tú图
xiàn陷
hài害
tóng同
shì事
，
jié结
guǒ果
wán玩
huǒ火
zì自
fén焚
，
bèi被
gōng公
sī司
kāi开
chú除
le了
。
He tried to frame his colleagues, but ended up burning himself and got fired by the company.
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Nà那
xiē些
wán玩
nòng弄
quán权
shù术
de的
zhèng政
kè客
zuì最
zhōng终
zhǐ只
huì会
wán玩
huǒ火
zì自
fén焚
。
Those politicians who manipulate power will only end up burning themselves.
Bù不
yào要
wèi为
le了
zhuàn赚
qián钱
ér而
wéi违
fǎ法
，
fǒu否
zé则
huì会
wán玩
huǒ火
zì自
fén焚
。
Don't break the law for money, or you will play with fire and get burnt.