圖窮匕見
Chinese
diagram; to plan; picture diagram; to plan; picture; drawing; chart | exhausted; poor | dagger; ladle; an ancient type of spoon | to see; to meet; to appear to see; to meet; to appear; to interview | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (圖窮匕見) | 圖 | 窮 | 匕 | 見 | |
simp. (图穷匕见) | 图 | 穷 | 匕 | 见 | |
alternative forms | 圖窮匕現/图穷匕现 | ||||
Literally: “When the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed”. |
Alternative forms
- 圖窮匕首見/图穷匕首见 (túqióngbǐshǒuxiàn)
Etymology
From the story of Jing Ke [227 BC], who tried to assassinate Ying Zheng (who later became the first emperor of China) using a dagger concealed inside a map scroll.
Pronunciation
Idiom
圖窮匕見
- to expose the hidden malicious intents at the end