internal threat; hidden danger; enemy within
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
serious trouble hidden within one's own ranks; internal threat; enemy in the bosom
formalUsually refers to hidden dangers, traitors, or serious problems within an organization, group, or country, as opposed to external threats. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
Fǔ腐
bài败
de的
guān官
liáo僚
shì是
lǎo老
bǎi百
xìng姓
de的
xīn心
fù腹
zhī之
huàn患
。
Corrupt bureaucrats are a serious hidden danger to the common people.
Rú如
guǒ果
bù不
jí及
shí时
jiě解
jué决
zhè这
gè个
wèn问
tí题
，
tā它
jiāng将
chéng成
wéi为
gōng公
sī司
de的
xīn心
fù腹
zhī之
huàn患
。
If this problem is not resolved in time, it will become a serious internal threat to the company.
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Bǐ比
qǐ起
wài外
dí敌
rù入
qīn侵
，
nèi内
jiān奸
cái才
shì是
xīn心
fù腹
zhī之
huàn患
。
Compared to foreign invasion, traitors within are the real enemy in our midst.