偷梁换柱
偷梁换柱 (tōu liáng huàn zhù) literally means “steal beam swap pillar” and expresses “deceive by substitution”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Deceive by substitution
Pronunciation: tōu liáng huàn zhù
Literal meaning: Steal beam swap pillar
Origin & Usage
This idiom refers to the cunning act of stealing (偷) beams (梁) and swapping (换) pillars (柱), derived from a Warring States period tale of architectural deception. The story involves a craftsman who gradually replaced a building's support structure while maintaining its appearance, ultimately compromising its integrity. Originally describing physical sabotage, it evolved to represent any subtle substitution intended to undermine foundations while preserving surface appearances. In modern usage, it often describes corporate espionage, intellectual property theft, or any situation where essential elements are surreptitiously replaced with inferior alternatives.
Examples
English: "The investigation revealed that key data had been subtly altered"
Chinese: 调查显示关键数据被巧妙地篡改了
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 偷梁换柱 mean in English?
偷梁换柱 (tōu liáng huàn zhù) literally translates to “Steal beam swap pillar” and is used to express “Deceive by substitution”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 偷梁换柱 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving deceive by substitution.
What is the pinyin for 偷梁换柱?
The pinyin pronunciation for 偷梁换柱 is “tōu liáng huàn zhù”.