借刀杀人

Pronunciation: jiè dāo shā rén Literal meaning: Kill with a borrowed knife

Origin & Usage

The idiom 借刀杀人 (jiè dāo shā rén) is a strategic concept from the ancient Chinese military text 'The Thirty-Six Stratagems' (三十六计), specifically the third stratagem. It translates to 'Kill with a borrowed knife,' illustrating a tactic where one uses another's resources or power to achieve one's own objectives, often without direct involvement. The characters break down as follows: 借 (jiè) means 'borrow,' 刀 (dāo) means 'knife,' 杀 (shā) means 'kill,' and 人 (rén) means 'person.' This strategy is about manipulating others into doing one's dirty work, thereby avoiding direct confrontation or blame. In modern contexts, it describes situations where individuals or groups cleverly maneuver others to act on their behalf, often in business or political scenarios.

Examples

English: "He manipulated the situation to eliminate his rival without getting his hands dirty."

Chinese: 他操控局势，借刀杀人，轻松消灭了对手。