📖 Meaning
To rely on one's strength to oppress and bully those who are weaker. It describes the behavior of powerful individuals or groups who use their advantage to mistreat the vulnerable. The phrase condemns the abuse of power.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Ming Dynasty author Feng Menglong's collection 'Jingshi Tongyan' (Stories to Caution the World), Volume 3. The text discusses the notorious tyrants Jie and Zhou, noting that their crimes amounted to nothing more than relying on nobility to oppress the humble and using strength to bully the weak. It concludes that such behavior is merely an abuse of power. The idiom has since been used to criticize those who exploit their strength to dominate others.
💡 Example Usage
他恃强凌弱的行为遭到了众人的谴责。
His behavior of bullying the weak was condemned by everyone.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 恃强凌弱
- Pinyin: shì qiáng líng ruò
- Literal Translation: rely on, strong, bully, weak
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4