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刀俎
dāo​zǔ

knife and chopping block; oppressor

Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents
  • 人为刀俎,我为鱼肉 rén​wéi​dāo​zǔ​wǒ​wéi​yú​ròu to be at someone's mercy
    literally translated as 'others are the knife and chopping block while I am the fish and meat'; used to describe being in a passive and dangerous position where someone else has total power over one's fate
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