以羊易牛
以羊易牛 (yǐ yáng yì niú) literally means “exchange a sheep for an ox” and expresses “substitute one thing for another”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: yi yang yi niu, yi yang yi niu,以羊易牛 meaning, 以羊易牛 in english
Substitute one thing for another
Pronunciation: yǐ yáng yì niú Literal meaning: Exchange a sheep for an ox
Origin & Usage
From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》). King Xuan of Qi (齐宣王) saw an ox being led past his hall to be sacrificed to consecrate a new bell. Unable to bear its trembling, he ordered it spared. Asked whether the ceremony should be abandoned, he said: 'How could it be? Exchange it for a sheep!' (以羊易之). The common people assumed the king was being stingy. Mencius read the moment differently: the king had pitied the ox because he saw it, and had not seen the sheep. That flash of compassion, Mencius argued, was exactly the heart a humane ruler needs. Today the idiom usually just means swapping one thing for another, sometimes with the hint that the substitution changes less than it seems.
Examples
English: "Replacing one expensive consultant with another is just exchanging a sheep for an ox — the problem stays the same."
Chinese: 换汤不换药，这不过是以羊易牛罢了。
Related Chinese Idioms
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wáng yáng dé niú
A small loss that yields a greater gain
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Artistry that leaves no trace
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Preserve a form so its meaning survives
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wáng yáng bǔ láo
Never too late to fix
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Imposing outside, timid within
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虎入羊群
hǔ rù yáng qún
Unstoppable force against the defenceless
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yáng cháng xiǎo dào
A narrow, winding, difficult road
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 以羊易牛 mean in English?
以羊易牛 (yǐ yáng yì niú) literally translates to “Exchange a sheep for an ox” and is used to express “Substitute one thing for another”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 以羊易牛 used?
Situation: Replacing one expensive consultant with another is just exchanging a sheep for an ox — the problem stays the same.
What is the pinyin for 以羊易牛?
The pinyin pronunciation for 以羊易牛 is “yǐ yáng yì niú”.