📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a person who is fierce and cruel, greedy for gain, arrogant in bearing, and deceitful in conduct all at once. It paints a picture of someone possessing an exceptionally恶劣 moral character—violent in temperament and cunning in behavior simultaneously.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from a Qing Dynasty memorial by Xue Fucheng, titled 'Memorial Drafted on Behalf of Vice Premier Li Reporting the Loyal Deeds of the Governor.' In this text, Xue describes how the statesman Zeng Guofan handled even the most difficult subordinates—those as cruel, greedy, arrogant, and deceitful as Li Shizhong and Chen Guorui. If such men possessed even a single redeeming quality, Zeng would write them earnest letters, praising their strengths while pointing out their faults, and urging them to reform. The idiom thus originally characterized the worst sort of unruly officers under Zeng's command.
💡 Example Usage
此人桀贪骜诈，欺压百姓，最终被绳之以法。
This man was cruel, greedy, arrogant, and deceitful, oppressing the common people until he was finally brought to justice.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 桀贪骜诈
- Pinyin: jié tān ào zhà
- Literal Translation: cruel, greedy, arrogant, deceitful
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4