羝羊触藩
羝羊触藩 (dī yáng chù fān) literally means “a ram butts the fence” and expresses “stuck, able neither to advance nor retreat”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: di yang chu fan, di yang chu fan,羝羊触藩 meaning, 羝羊触藩 in english
Stuck, able neither to advance nor retreat
Pronunciation: dī yáng chù fān Literal meaning: A ram butts the fence
Origin & Usage
From the Book of Changes (《周易》), hexagram 34, Great Strength (大壮). The image appears in two of its lines. The third line warns that an inferior person uses strength recklessly: 'the ram butts the fence and entangles its horns' (羝羊触藩，羸其角). The top line completes the picture: 'the ram butts the fence; it cannot retreat, it cannot go forward, nothing is favourable — but in hardship there is good fortune' (不能退，不能遂，无攸利，艰则吉). 羝 (dī) is a male sheep and 藩 (fān) a hedge or fence. The lesson belongs to a hexagram about power: force applied without judgement leaves you stuck, and only patience in difficulty gets you free.
Examples
English: "Having signed the contract and spent the budget, the team was like a ram with its horns caught in the fence."
Chinese: 事情弄到这一步，进退两难，真像羝羊触藩。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
触类旁通
chù lèi páng tōng
Apply knowledge broadly
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亡羊得牛
wáng yáng dé niú
A small loss that yields a greater gain
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羊肠小道
yáng cháng xiǎo dào
A narrow, winding, difficult road
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羚羊挂角
líng yáng guà jiǎo
Artistry that leaves no trace
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歧路亡羊
qí lù wáng yáng
Too many choices lead nowhere
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羊质虎皮
yáng zhì hǔ pí
Imposing outside, timid within
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虎入羊群
hǔ rù yáng qún
Unstoppable force against the defenceless
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挂羊头卖狗肉
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
Advertise one thing and deliver another
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 羝羊触藩 mean in English?
羝羊触藩 (dī yáng chù fān) literally translates to “A ram butts the fence” and is used to express “Stuck, able neither to advance nor retreat”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 羝羊触藩 used?
Situation: Having signed the contract and spent the budget, the team was like a ram with its horns caught in the fence.
What is the pinyin for 羝羊触藩?
The pinyin pronunciation for 羝羊触藩 is “dī yáng chù fān”.