📖 Meaning
It means each person serves and works for his or her own master or employer. It is used when people on opposing sides each remain loyal to their own leader, often to justify acting against former friends or colleagues. The idiom emphasizes loyalty and a sense of duty to one's own superior.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the Three Kingdoms period (三国时期). According to Pei Songzhi's annotation to the biography of Cao Shuang in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (《三国志·魏志·曹爽传》), when Cao Shuang surrendered his seal of office, his registrar Yang Zong urged him to hold onto his power rather than walk to the execution ground at the East Market. Cao Shuang refused and was later executed. When officials then accused Yang Zong of abetting Cao Shuang's rebellion, Sima Yi (posthumously honored as Emperor Xuan, 宣王) pardoned him, saying, 'Each was serving his own master,' and appointed him a palace attendant (尚书郎).
💡 Example Usage
我们各为其主，立场不同，日后相见也只能兵戎相见了。
We each serve our own master; with such different positions, if we ever meet again, we can only take up arms against each other.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 各为其主
- Pinyin: gè wèi qí zhǔ
- Literal Translation: each, for, one's own, master
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4