指桑骂槐
指桑骂槐 (zhǐ sāng mà huái) literally means “point mulberry, curse locust tree” and expresses “indirect criticism of real target”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zhi sang ma huai, zhi sang ma huai,指桑骂槐 meaning, 指桑骂槐 in english
Indirect criticism of real target
Pronunciation: zhǐ sāng mà huái Literal meaning: Point mulberry, curse locust tree
Origin & Usage
To point at (指) the mulberry (桑) and curse (骂) the pagoda tree (槐). It is the twenty-sixth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, where the technique is discipline by demonstration: an inferior who cannot be rebuked directly is addressed through someone else in the room. The two trees are both ordinary yard trees, which is the point — they are interchangeable, and everyone present knows which one is meant. Criticism aimed past its stated target.
Examples
English: "The manager criticized one employee while actually targeting another who understood the message"
Chinese: 经理批评了一名员工，而实际上是针对另一名理解这一信息的员工
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
颐指气使
yí zhǐ qì shǐ
Be domineering and arrogant
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饱经沧桑
bǎo jīng cāng sāng
Weathered profound life transformations
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沧海桑田
cāng hǎi sāng tián
Profound transformations over time
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指鹿为马
zhǐ lù wéi mǎ
Deliberately distort truth as power display
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首屈一指
shǒu qū yī zhǐ
Foremost; top-ranked
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 指桑骂槐 mean in English?
指桑骂槐 (zhǐ sāng mà huái) literally translates to “Point mulberry, curse locust tree” and is used to express “Indirect criticism of real target”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 指桑骂槐 used?
Situation: The manager criticized one employee while actually targeting another who understood the message
What is the pinyin for 指桑骂槐?
The pinyin pronunciation for 指桑骂槐 is “zhǐ sāng mà huái”.