九世之仇

Chinese

		nine	life; age; generation life; age; generation; era; world; lifetime	's; him/her/it; this	surname; match; mate surname; match; mate; hatred; animosity; enmity; a rival; an enemy; feud
simp. and trad. (九世之仇)		九	世	之	仇

Etymology

From the story of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty:

Duke Ai of Qi had a dispute with his neighbouring state Ji (紀). King Yi of Zhou sided with Marquis of Ji and executed Duke Ai. Later, Duke Xiang of Qi, the ninth-generation descendant of Duke Ai, conquered the State of Ji to revenge for him.

遠祖者，幾世乎？九世矣。九世猶可以復讎乎？雖百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

远祖者，几世乎？九世矣。九世犹可以复雠乎？虽百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 《春秋公羊傳·莊公四年》 (Gongyang Zhuan)

Yuǎnzǔ zhě, jǐ shì hū? Jiǔ shì yǐ. Jiǔ shì yóu kěyǐ fùchóu hū? Suī bǎishì kě yě. [Pinyin]

Can the ninth generation descendant revenge (for his ancestor)? Even the hundredth descendant can (do it).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): jiǔshìzhīchóu
(Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓㄔㄡˊ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: jiǔshìzhīchóu
  - Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓㄔㄡˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jiǒushìhjhihchóu
  - Wade–Giles: chiu³-shih⁴-chih¹-chʻou²
  - Yale: jyǒu-shr̀-jr̄-chóu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jeoushyhjychour
  - Palladius: цзюшичжичоу (czjušičžičou)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕjoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

Idiom

九世之仇

irreconcilable resentments (from generations of hatred since the remote past)