虎の威を借る狐

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
とら
Grade: S

Grade: S

Grade: 4
きつね
Hyōgai

Etymology

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Literally, "the fox who borrows the might of a tiger." Partial calque of Literary Chinese 狐藉虎威 (hújièhǔwēi, literally a fox borrows the might of a tiger).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [to̞ɾa̠ no̞ i o̞ ka̠ɾɯ̟ kʲit͡sɨne̞]

Noun

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(とら)()()(きつね) (tora no i o karu kitsune

  1. donkey in a lion's skin; one who borrows the authority of someone else and acts arrogant