📖 Meaning
A tiger leaves its mountain stronghold and descends to a flat plain, where it loses its advantage. It is a metaphor for a powerful person who has lost their position, influence, or authority and fallen into a disadvantaged situation. The phrase conveys the loss of one's former strength and status.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan' (The Complete Story of Yue Fei) by Qian Cai, specifically the fourth chapter, which contains the line 'A tiger fallen to the flat plain is bullied by dogs.' The imagery evokes a mighty tiger that, having left its mountain domain, becomes vulnerable on open, level ground. Over time, the expression became a common proverb describing how the mighty can be humbled when stripped of their power and terrain advantage.
💡 Example Usage
他曾经是商界巨头，如今虎落平阳，连个旧友都不肯见他。
He was once a business tycoon; now, like a tiger fallen to the plain, even old friends refuse to see him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 虎落平阳
- Pinyin: hǔ luò píng yáng
- Literal Translation: tiger, fall, flat, sunny plain
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4