虎头蛇尾
虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) literally means “tiger head snake tail” and expresses “strong start with weak finish”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: hu tou she wei, hu tou she wei,虎头蛇尾 meaning, 虎头蛇尾 in english
Strong start with weak finish
Pronunciation: hǔ tóu shé wěi Literal meaning: Tiger head snake tail
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty literary critics gave us this image of a tiger's head (虎头) with a snake's tail (蛇尾) to describe works that begin powerfully but end weakly. Song Dynasty writers expanded it beyond literature to any project showing declining quality over time. The zoological mismatch perfectly captured the disappointment of strong starts fading into weak finishes.
Examples
English: "The novel began with dramatic intensity but ended with a weak, rushed conclusion"
Chinese: 这部小说开头激烈，但以弱且仓促的结尾收场
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
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百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
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天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Heaven rewards diligence
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破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
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守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
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青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
Student surpasses master
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 虎头蛇尾 mean in English?
虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) literally translates to “Tiger head snake tail” and is used to express “Strong start with weak finish”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 虎头蛇尾 used?
Situation: The novel began with dramatic intensity but ended with a weak, rushed conclusion
What is the pinyin for 虎头蛇尾?
The pinyin pronunciation for 虎头蛇尾 is “hǔ tóu shé wěi”.