削木为吏
xuē​mù​wéi​lì

refuse humiliation

  • created reference approved 削木为吏/削木為吏 → 画地为牢/畫地為牢 (synonym) — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    削木为吏 / 削木為吏 xuē​mù​wéi​lì

    画地为牢 / 畫地為牢 huà​dì​wéi​láo

    synonym

    Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

    created reference

  • created sense approved 削木为吏/削木為吏 · xuē​mù​wéi​lì · refuse humiliation — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    削木为吏 / 削木為吏

    xuē​mù​wéi​lì

    refuse humiliation

    To refuse to submit to interrogation or humiliation from even the lowliest official; also used to describe cruel or harsh prison officials. It literally refers to an ancient legend where a wooden figure was carved into an official to intimidate people into telling the truth.

    xiāo​mù​wéi​lì, xuè​mù​wéi​lì

    削 (literal) → 削 · xuē · to pare 木 (literal) → 木 · mù · wooden 为 (literal) → 为/為 · wéi · to be 吏 (literal) → 吏 · lì · official

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense