📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to the act of mounting punitive expeditions against and eradicating evil, cruel, and tyrannical forces. It describes a righteous military or political effort to eliminate oppressive powers that harm the people. The phrase conveys a sense of moral justification in confronting and destroying wickedness.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom combines two classical Chinese military concepts: 讨 (tǎo), meaning to mount a punitive campaign against wrongdoing, and 翦 (jiǎn), meaning to cut down or eradicate completely. The phrase reflects the traditional Chinese political philosophy that justified armed intervention against tyrannical rulers or forces. Such language commonly appeared in historical chronicles and military treatises describing campaigns to restore justice and order. No single definitive literary source is attributed to this exact phrasing.
💡 Example Usage
朝廷派遣大军讨恶翦暴，平定了边疆的叛乱。
The imperial court dispatched a great army to punish evil and eradicate tyranny, quelling the rebellion at the frontier.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 讨恶翦暴
- Pinyin: tǎo è jiǎn bào
- Literal Translation: punish, evil, eradicate, violence
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4