成也蕭何,敗也蕭何

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Chinese

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finish; complete; accomplish
finish; complete; accomplish; become; turn into; win; succeed; one tenth
 
also; too Xiao He be defeated; to defeat; loss also; too Xiao He
trad. (成也蕭何,敗也蕭何)
simp. (成也萧何,败也萧何)
Literally: “The success is from Xiao He, and the downfall is also from Xiao He.”

Etymology

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In the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Xiao He recommended Han Xin become a general, later he helped Empress Lü Zhi to have Han Xin killed. Later, this phrase was used as a metaphor to describe a situation in the success or failure of an endeavor derives from the same person or thing.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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成也蕭何,敗也蕭何

  1. the key to one's success is also one's undoing

Usage notes

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(Xiāo Hé) can also be replaced with any name.