芒刺在背

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Chinese

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Miscanthus sinensis
thorn; sting; prick
thorn; sting; prick; pierce; stab; thrust; assassinate; murder
 
(located) at; in; exist
(located) at; in; exist; (before verbs) immediately involved in; right in the middle of doing
 
learn by heart; the back of the body; to be burdened
learn by heart; the back of the body; to be burdened; to carry on the back or shoulder
 
trad. (芒刺在背)
simp. #(芒刺在背)

Etymology

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From the Book of Han [circa 2nd century AD].

謁見大將軍芒刺在背 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
谒见大将军芒刺在背 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Shu
Xuāndì shǐ lì, yèjiàn gāo miào, dàjiāngjūn guāng cóng cān chéng, shàng nèi yán dàn zhī, ruò yǒu mángcìzàibèi. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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芒刺在背

  1. to be jittery; to be on pins and needles