make burial figurines; initiate bad practices
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesverb
to make burial figurines (for sacrifice)
archaicOriginal literal meaning from ancient Chinese burial practices. Now rarely used except in historical or archaeological contexts.
Gǔ古
dài代
yǒu有
zuò作
yǒng俑
yǐ以
xùn殉
zàng葬
de的
xí习
sú俗
。
Ancient times had the custom of making burial figurines for sacrifice.
verb
to initiate bad practices; to set a bad example
literaryMetaphorical meaning derived from the Confucian criticism that making human-shaped figurines for burial was the beginning of inhumane practices. Often appears in the phrase '始作俑者'. Strongly negative connotation.
Shǐ始
zuò作
yǒng俑
zhě者
，
qí其
wú无
hòu后
hū乎
？
He who first made burial figurines—shall he not have descendants? (Mencius)
Zhè这
zhǒng种
zuò作
yǒng俑
xíng行
wéi为
bì必
xū须
jiān坚
jué决
zhì制
zhǐ止
。
This kind of practice that sets a bad precedent must be firmly stopped.
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Tā他
shì是
zhè这
chǎng场
nào闹
jù剧
de的
shǐ始
zuò作
yǒng俑
zhě者
。
He is the one who started this farce.