不攻自破 bù gōng zì pò collapse of its own accord

Explanation

不用攻击，自己就瓦解崩溃了。比喻论点站不住脚，经不起反驳或攻击。

Without attack, it will collapse by itself. A metaphor for an argument that is untenable and cannot withstand refutation or attack.

Origin Story

话说战国时期，有个名叫张仪的谋士，他擅长诡辩，也善于利用敌人的弱点。有一次，他受秦国国君之命，前往魏国游说魏王。魏王素来仰慕张仪的才华，便设宴款待，并想听听张仪对国家大事有何高见。张仪不慌不忙，侃侃而谈，他先指出魏国目前面临的困境：国内经济衰退，民生凋敝，周边强敌环伺，自身实力却日渐衰弱。然后，他提出解决之道：放弃与秦国的争霸，与秦国结盟，共享富贵，共同对付其他国家。魏王开始犹豫不决，他觉得张仪的话有道理，但心里还是有些担忧。张仪见此，便进一步说道：'大王不必担心，如果我的策略不行，自然会不攻自破。'最终，魏王被张仪的说辞所迷惑，接受了他的建议，与秦国结盟。然而，魏国的实力根本无法与秦国抗衡，这一联盟很快便走向失败，这便是'不攻自破'的真实写照。

huà shuō zhànguó shíqī, yǒu gè míng jiào zhāng yí de móushì, tā shàn cháng guǐbiàn, yě shàn yú lìyòng dírén de ruòdiǎn. yǒu yī cì, tā shòu qín guó guó jūn zhī mìng, qiánwǎng wèi guó yóushuō wèi wáng. wèi wáng sù lái yǎngmù zhāng yí de cáihua, biàn shè yàn kuǎn dài, bìng xiǎng tīng tīng zhāng yí duì guójiā dàshì yǒu hé gāojiàn. zhāng yí bù huāng bù máng, kǎnkǎn ér tán, tā xiān zhǐ chū wèi guó mùqián miàn lín de kùnjìng: guónèi jīngjì shuāituì, mínshēng diāobì, zhōubian qiángdí huánsì, zìshēn shí lì què rìjiàn shuāiruò. rán hòu, tā tíchū jiějué zhī dào: fàngqì yǔ qín guó de zhēngbà, yǔ qín guó jié méng, gòngxiǎng fùguì, gòngtóng duìfù qítā guójiā. wèi wáng kāishǐ yóuyù bù jué, tā juéde zhāng yí de huà yǒu dàolǐ, dàn xīn lǐ háishì yǒuxiē dānyōu. zhāng yí jiàn cǐ, biàn jìnbù yī fù shuōdào: 'dà wáng bùbì dānxīn, rúguǒ wǒ de cèlüè bù xíng, zìrán huì bù gōng zì pò.' zuìzhōng, wèi wáng bèi zhāng yí de shuōcí suǒ móhuì, jiēshòu le tā de jiànyì, yǔ qín guó jié méng. rán'ér, wèi guó de shí lì gēnběn wúfǎ yǔ qín guó kànghéng, zhè yī liánméng hěn kuài biàn zǒuxiàng shībài, zhè jiùshì 'bù gōng zì pò' de zhēnshí xiězhào.

During the Warring States period, there was a strategist named Zhang Yi who was skilled in sophistry and adept at exploiting the weaknesses of his enemies. Once, commissioned by the king of Qin, he went to Wei to persuade King Wei. King Wei admired Zhang Yi's talent and hosted a banquet for him, eager to hear Zhang Yi's insights on state affairs. Zhang Yi calmly and eloquently began by pointing out Wei's current predicament: declining economy, suffering populace, surrounded by powerful enemies, while its own strength was diminishing. Then, he proposed a solution: abandoning the struggle for dominance with Qin, allying with Qin to share prosperity, and jointly dealing with other states. King Wei initially hesitated, finding Zhang Yi's words logical yet feeling apprehensive. Zhang Yi, perceiving this, further emphasized: "Your Majesty need not worry, if my strategy proves ineffective, it will naturally collapse of its own accord." Ultimately, King Wei was swayed by Zhang Yi's arguments and accepted his proposal, allying with Qin. However, Wei's power was no match for Qin, and this alliance quickly ended in failure, a perfect illustration of 'collapse of its own accord'.

Usage

用于形容论点、计划等经不起推敲，自身存在严重缺陷，最终必然失败。

yòng yú xíngróng lùndiǎn, jìhuà děng jīng bù qǐ tuīqiāo, zìshēn cúnzài yánzhòng quēxiàn, zuìzhōng bìrán shībài

Used to describe arguments, plans, etc., that cannot withstand scrutiny, have serious inherent flaws, and are ultimately doomed to fail.

Examples

• 他的理论漏洞百出，不攻自破。

  tā de lìlún lòudòng bǎichū, bù gōng zì pò

  His theory is full of loopholes and collapses by itself.

• 面对事实的证据，他的谎言不攻自破了。

  miàn duì shìshí de zhèngjù, tā de huǎngyán bù gōng zì pò le

  In the face of factual evidence, his lies fell apart by themselves.

Related Idioms

• 自取灭亡

• 土崩瓦解

• 溃不成军

Opposite Idioms

• 固若金汤

• 坚不可摧

• 无懈可击