📖 Meaning
To carry provisions and sit fully armored, ready for battle. It describes troops in a state of complete military preparedness, awaiting the enemy. The phrase conveys a posture of vigilance and combat readiness.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Zuo Zhuan (左传·文公十二年), chronicling events during the Spring and Autumn period. In the twelfth year of Duke Wen of Lu, the Qin army launched a surprise attack on the upper army of the Jin state. Jin general Zhao Chuan pursued the retreating Qin forces but failed to catch them, and returned furious. He protested that his men had been carrying rations and sitting in armor specifically to seek out the enemy, demanding to know why they should not strike when the enemy had finally arrived.
💡 Example Usage
将士们裹粮坐甲，随时准备迎战来犯之敌。
The soldiers carried rations and sat in full armor, ready at any moment to meet the invading enemy.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 裹粮坐甲
- Pinyin: guǒ liáng zuò jiǎ
- Literal Translation: carry rations, sit in armor
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4