如虎添翼
如虎添翼 (rú hǔ tiān yì) literally means “like tiger adding wings” and expresses “add to one's strength; become even more powerful”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: ru hu tian yi, ru hu tian yi,如虎添翼 meaning, 如虎添翼 in english
Add to one's strength; become even more powerful
Pronunciation: rú hǔ tiān yì Literal meaning: Like tiger adding wings
Origin & Usage
A tiger (虎) with wings (翼) added (添). The animal was already at the top of anything it might meet, so the addition is not making it competitive but removing the last constraint on it — what changes is not the tiger's strength but the ground it can now reach. In practice it is used of capable people given resources and of strong companies given a favourable rule, and it is neutral about whether this is welcome. From the tiger's side it is delight; from anywhere else it is alarm.
Examples
English: "The new funding will greatly strengthen our capabilities."
Chinese: 新的资金将使我们如虎添翼。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
虎头蛇尾
hǔ tóu shé wěi
Strong start with weak finish
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两虎相争
liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
Fierce competition between equals
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三人成虎
sān rén chéng hǔ
Repeated lie becomes truth
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骑虎难下
qí hǔ nán xià
Unable to stop dangerous course
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马马虎虎
mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ
Just so-so or passable quality
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与虎谋皮
yǔ hǔ móu pí
Asking someone to sacrifice their core interests
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虎踞龙盘
hǔ jù lóng pán
Commanding imposing strategic position
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称心如意
chèn xīn rú yì
Perfectly satisfying every expectation
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 如虎添翼 mean in English?
如虎添翼 (rú hǔ tiān yì) literally translates to “Like tiger adding wings” and is used to express “Add to one's strength; become even more powerful”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 如虎添翼 used?
Situation: The new funding will greatly strengthen our capabilities.
What is the pinyin for 如虎添翼?
The pinyin pronunciation for 如虎添翼 is “rú hǔ tiān yì”.
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