放虎归山
放虎归山 (fàng hǔ guī shān) literally means “release a tiger back to the mountain” and expresses “empower a threat”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: fang hu gui shan, fang hu gui shan,放虎归山 meaning, 放虎归山 in english
Empower a threat
Pronunciation: fàng hǔ guī shān Literal meaning: Release a tiger back to the mountain
Origin & Usage
Liu Zhang, governor of Yi province, invited Liu Bei in to help against a common enemy. His adviser Liu Ba warned him that admitting the man was releasing (放) a tiger (虎) back (归) into the hills (山), where it would recover and no longer be catchable. Liu Zhang went ahead; Liu Bei took Chengdu and the province with it. The phrase is used of any decision to let a neutralised threat regain its freedom of movement, and it always implies the mistake was foreseeable.
Examples
English: "By letting him go, she unleashed a dangerous rival."
Chinese: 放虎归山后，她释放了一个危险的对手。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
心花怒放
xīn huā nù fàng
Extreme joy
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逼上梁山
bī shàng liáng shān
Compelled to rebel
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调虎离山
diào hǔ lí shān
Divert and conquer
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含辛茹苦
hán xīn rú kǔ
Persevere through adversity
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快马加鞭
kuài mǎ jiā biān
Accelerate progress
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全力以赴
quán lì yǐ fù
Total commitment
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忍辱负重
rěn rǔ fù zhòng
Bear disgrace to discharge a duty
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十年寒窗
shí nián hán chuāng
Diligent study
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 放虎归山 mean in English?
放虎归山 (fàng hǔ guī shān) literally translates to “Release a tiger back to the mountain” and is used to express “Empower a threat”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 放虎归山 used?
Situation: By letting him go, she unleashed a dangerous rival.
What is the pinyin for 放虎归山?
The pinyin pronunciation for 放虎归山 is “fàng hǔ guī shān”.