二桃殺三士
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Chinese[edit]
two | peach | to kill; to murder; to slaughter | three | scholar; warrior; knight | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (二桃殺三士) | 二 | 桃 | 殺 | 三 | 士 | |
simp. (二桃杀三士) | 二 | 桃 | 杀 | 三 | 士 | |
Literally: “killing three warriors with two peaches”. |
Etymology[edit]
Based on a story in Yanzi chunqiu, when Yan Ying, the prime minister of the State of Qi schemed three arrogant and disobedient generals to death by awarding two peaches to the generals who accomplished the most. Conflicts arose and all of them committed suicide under remorse and shame. Compare with the mythology of apple of discord.
Pronunciation[edit]
Idiom[edit]
二桃殺三士