to nurture a tiger invites calamity; indulging evil brings future trouble
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to rear a tiger is to invite calamity; to indulge evil people leaves one with future troubles
formalThis idiom warns against showing mercy to evil or dangerous people, as such tolerance will eventually bring harm to oneself. Often used in political, military, or moral contexts.
Nǐ你
duì对
dí敌
rén人
rén仁
cí慈
，
jiù就
shì是
yǎng养
hǔ虎
yí遗
huàn患
。
Showing mercy to your enemies is simply nurturing a tiger to invite future calamity.
Dāng当
chū初
méi没
yǒu有
chú除
diào掉
tā他
，
rú如
jīn今
yǎng养
hǔ虎
yí遗
huàn患
，
hòu后
huǐ悔
mò莫
jí及
。
We didn't eliminate him back then, and now we have nurtured a tiger to our own detriment—it is too late for regrets.
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Zhèng政
fǔ府
bù不
néng能
duì对
fàn犯
zuì罪
fèn分
zǐ子
tuǒ妥
xié协
，
fǒu否
zé则
jiù就
shì是
yǎng养
hǔ虎
yí遗
huàn患
。
The government cannot compromise with criminals, or else it will be rearing a tiger to invite calamity.