指鹿为马
指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) literally means “point deer call horse” and expresses “deliberately distort truth as power display”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: zhi lu wei ma, zhi lu wei ma,指鹿为马 meaning, 指鹿为马 in english
Deliberately distort truth as power display
Pronunciation: zhǐ lù wéi mǎ
Literal meaning: Point deer call horse
Origin & Usage
This idiom references the historical incident where someone pointed at (指) a deer (鹿) and called it (为) a horse (马), originating from the Qin Dynasty. Historical records recount how powerful minister Zhao Gao tested his influence by leading a deer into court and calling it a horse, executing officials who contradicted him. The incident demonstrated how power could distort reality through enforced consensus. During the Han Dynasty, historians used it to describe the dangerous period of ministerial overreach after the First Emperor's death. Unlike terms for simple deception, it specifically describes deliberately misrepresenting reality as a display of power, forcing others to accept obvious falsehoods. Modern usage describes situations where institutional power compels acknowledgment of manifest untruths.
Examples
English: "The corrupt official deliberately misrepresented facts to protect his allies"
Chinese: 腐败官员故意歪曲事实以保护他的盟友
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 指鹿为马 mean in English?
指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) literally translates to “Point deer call horse” and is used to express “Deliberately distort truth as power display”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 指鹿为马 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving deliberately distort truth as power display.
What is the pinyin for 指鹿为马?
The pinyin pronunciation for 指鹿为马 is “zhǐ lù wéi mǎ”.