揭竿而起

Pronunciation: jiē gān ér qǐ Literal meaning: Raise pole and rise

Origin & Usage

The idiom 揭竿而起 (jiē gān ér qǐ) originates from the historical account of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang during the late Qin Dynasty. Discontent with the oppressive regime, these two leaders led a rebellion against the Qin by using simple tools as weapons and banners. The phrase literally means 'to raise a pole and rise up,' symbolizing the act of rebellion with whatever is at hand. In this context, '揭' (jiē) means 'to raise,' '竿' (gān) refers to 'pole,' '而' (ér) is a conjunction meaning 'and,' and '起' (qǐ) means 'to rise.' Today, this idiom is used to describe a grassroots uprising or rebellion against tyranny, highlighting the power of collective action against oppressive forces.

Examples

English: "When faced with adversity, we must unite and take action."

Chinese: 面对逆境时，我们必须团结一致，行动起来。