偃旗息鼓 yǎnqíxīgǔ to cease hostilities Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 偃 yǎn to lower (bound form) to lay down; to lower, as flags or banners旗 qí noun flag flag; banner; emblem息 xī verbadverb to stop (bound form) to cease; to stop; to end; to be extinguished鼓 gǔ verb to beat to beat a drum; to play certain musical instruments by plucking or striking