📖 Meaning
This idiom means to ruin the state and injure the common people. It is used to criticize corrupt officials, destructive policies, or actions that bring devastation to the nation and suffering to its citizens.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in Volume 4 of 'Jing Shi Tong Yan' (Stories to Warn the World) by Ming dynasty author Feng Menglong. The passage describes the underworld judging a high official who, instead of doing good, was stubborn and willful, implementing the Green Sprouts Law and other new policies that damaged the country and harmed the people, with resentment rising to the heavens. This alludes to the controversial reforms of Wang Anshi during the Northern Song dynasty, whose New Policies were fiercely opposed by critics who argued they burdened ordinary citizens.
💡 Example Usage
这些贪官污吏蠹国害民，终将受到法律的严惩。
These corrupt officials harm the nation and its people, and will ultimately face severe punishment under the law.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 蠹国害民
- Pinyin: dù guó hài mín
- Literal Translation: damage, country, harm, people
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4