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
胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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鹬蚌相争
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
Mutual conflict benefits third party
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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”.