狐假虎威
狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) literally means “fox uses tiger's power” and expresses “borrow authority to intimidate”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: hu jia hu wei, hu jia hu wei,狐假虎威 meaning, 狐假虎威 in english
Borrow authority to intimidate
Pronunciation: hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Literal meaning: Fox uses tiger's power
Origin & Usage
This idiom emerged from a Warring States period fable where a fox (狐) borrowed (假) the authority (威) of a tiger (虎) to intimidate other animals. The story first appeared in the Zhan Guo Ce, using the clever fox and powerful tiger to criticize political parasites who derived their influence from powerful patrons. During the Ming Dynasty, it became a pointed critique of corrupt officials who abused borrowed authority. Contemporary usage describes anyone who intimidates others by flaunting connections to powerful figures.
Examples
English: "The junior manager kept dropping the CEO's name to get his way"
Chinese: 这个初级经理总是搬出CEO的名字来达到目的
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Related Chinese Idioms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 狐假虎威 mean in English?
狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) literally translates to “Fox uses tiger's power” and is used to express “Borrow authority to intimidate”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 狐假虎威 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving borrow authority to intimidate.
What is the pinyin for 狐假虎威?
The pinyin pronunciation for 狐假虎威 is “hú jiǎ hǔ wēi”.