假道伐虢
假道伐虢 (jiǎ dào fá guó) literally means “borrow the way to attack guo” and expresses “exploitation through deception”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: jia dao fa guo, jia dao fa guo,假道伐虢 meaning, 假道伐虢 in english
Exploitation through deception
Pronunciation: jiǎ dào fá guó Literal meaning: Borrow the way to attack Guo
Origin & Usage
This strategic idiom originates from the historical account in the 'Zuo Zhuan' (左传), a classical Chinese text. During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Jin (晋国) sought to conquer the neighboring state of Guo (虢国). To achieve this, Jin needed to pass through the state of Yu (虞国). The Jin minister, Xun Xi (荀息), advised offering Yu valuable gifts to borrow their territory as a pathway. Despite warnings from his advisor Gong Zhiqi (宫之奇), the ruler of Yu accepted the gifts and allowed Jin's army to pass. Jin subsequently attacked and conquered Guo, and later turned on Yu, annexing it as well. The idiom '假道伐虢' (jiǎ dào fá guó) literally means 'borrow the way to attack Guo' and highlights the danger of short-sighted decisions. In modern usage, it warns against allowing others to exploit one's resources for their own gain.
Examples
English: "He cleverly used a false pretext to undermine his competitor's position in the market."
Chinese: 他巧妙地假道伐虢，削弱了竞争对手的市场地位。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
狐假虎威
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Borrow authority to intimidate
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弄假成真
nòng jiǎ chéng zhēn
Reality from pretense
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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暗箭伤人
àn jiàn shāng rén
Covert attacks avoiding direct confrontation
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居安思危
jū ān sī wēi
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
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厉兵秣马
lì bīng mò mǎ
Make thorough preparations; get ready for action
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城下之盟
chéng xià zhī méng
Forced agreement
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一鼓作气
yī gǔ zuò qì
Complete in one effort
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 假道伐虢 mean in English?
假道伐虢 (jiǎ dào fá guó) literally translates to “Borrow the way to attack Guo” and is used to express “Exploitation through deception”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 假道伐虢 used?
Situation: He cleverly used a false pretext to undermine his competitor's position in the market.
What is the pinyin for 假道伐虢?
The pinyin pronunciation for 假道伐虢 is “jiǎ dào fá guó”.