foot soldier; minor figure; pawn
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
foot soldier; pawn; a minor figure with little power or status
neutralOften used metaphorically, especially in idioms like '马前卒' (vanguard; willing follower). Originates from Chinese chess (xiàngqí), where '卒' is the pawn piece.
Tā他
bú不
guò过
shì是
duì对
fāng方
de的
yī一
méi枚
xiǎo小
zú卒
，
zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
lǎo老
bǎn板
zài在
hòu后
miàn面
。
He's just a pawn of the other party; the real boss is behind the scenes.
Zài在
zhè这
chǎng场
quán权
lì力
dòu斗
zhēng争
zhōng中
，
tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
ge个
wú无
guān关
jǐn紧
yào要
de的
xiǎo小
zú卒
。
In this power struggle, he's just an insignificant pawn.
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Chéng成
yǔ语
“
mǎ马
qián前
zú卒
”
bǐ比
yù喻
wèi为
bié别
rén人
xiào效
lì力
huò或
chōng冲
fēng锋
zài在
qián前
de的
rén人
。
The idiom 'mǎqiánzú' metaphorically refers to someone who works for others or charges at the forefront.