为虎添翼 wèi hǔ tiān yì Add wings to a tiger

Explanation

比喻帮助坏人，增加坏人的势力。

It means to help the bad guys and increase their power.

Origin Story

话说春秋时期，有个叫吴起的人，他非常有军事才能，曾帮助魏国打败了不少敌人，魏文侯对他非常器重。可是，魏文侯死后，他的儿子魏武侯即位，却听信了小人谗言，对吴起十分猜忌。吴起深知魏武侯的猜忌之心，他为了保全自己，便想着离开魏国。这时，楚国听说吴起要离开魏国，便派使者带着丰厚的礼物，去请吴起出山，为楚国效力。吴起知道楚国已经很强大了，如果再去帮助楚国，那无疑是“为虎添翼”，自己也会成为千古罪人。但他权衡利弊之后，还是决定去楚国。因为他觉得，魏国已经容不下他了，与其留在魏国，倒不如去一个新的地方，大展拳脚，施展自己的才能。然而吴起不知道的是，楚国权贵们也同样对他心怀忌惮。在楚国，吴起虽然得到重用，但是他却处处受到其他大臣的排挤，他改革的措施也总是受到阻挠。最后，吴起死于非命。吴起的一生，可谓是才华横溢，但却命运多舛。他帮助魏国强大，却又为魏国所不容；他投奔楚国，却终究难逃为虎添翼的悲惨结局。

huà shuō chūnqiū shíqī, yǒu gè jiào wú qǐ de rén, tā fēicháng yǒu jūnshì cái néng, céng bāngzhù wèi guó dǎbài le bù shǎo dí rén, wèi wén hóu duì tā fēicháng qìzhòng。kěshì, wèi wén hóu sǐ hòu, tā de érzi wèi wǔ hóu jí wèi, què tīng xìn le xiǎorén chán yán, duì wú qǐ shífēn cāijì。wú qǐ shēn zhī wèi wǔ hóu de cāijì zhī xīn, tā wèile bǎoquán zìjǐ, biàn xiǎngzhe líkāi wèi guó。zhè shí, chǔ guó tīngshuō wú qǐ yào líkāi wèi guó, biàn pài shǐzhě dài zhe fēnghòu de lǐwù, qù qǐng wú qǐ chū shān, wèi chǔ guó xiàolì。wú qǐ zhīdào chǔ guó yǐjīng hěn qiángdà le, rúguǒ zài qù bāngzhù chǔ guó, nà wú yí shì “wèi hǔ tiān yì”, zìjǐ yě huì chéngwéi qiānguǐ zuì rén。dàn tā quán héng lìbì zhī hòu, háishì juédìng qù chǔ guó。yīnwèi tā juéde, wèi guó yǐjīng róng bù xià tā le, yǔqí liú zài wèi guó, dào bùrú qù yīgè xīn de dìfang, dà zhǎn quánjiǎo, shīzhǎn zìjǐ de cái néng。rán'ér wú qǐ bù zhīdào de shì, chǔ guó quán guì men yě tóngyàng duì tā xīn huái jìdàn。zài chǔ guó, wú qǐ suīrán dédào zhòngyòng, dànshì tā què chùchù shòudào qítā dà chén de páijǐ, tā gǎigé de cuòshī yě zǒngshì shòudào zǔnáo。zuìhòu, wú qǐ sǐ yú fēimìng。wú qǐ de yīshēng, kěwèi shì cái huá héngyì, dàn què mìngyùn duō chuǎn。tā bāngzhù wèi guó qiángdà, què yòu wèi wèi guó suǒ bù róng；tā tóubēn chǔ guó, què zhōngjiū nántáo wèi hǔ tiān yì de bēicǎn jiéjú。

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a man named Wu Qi, known for his exceptional military prowess. He assisted the State of Wei in defeating numerous enemies, earning the trust of its ruler, Duke Wen. However, after Duke Wen's death, his successor, Duke Wu, heeded the slanderous whispers of courtiers and grew suspicious of Wu Qi. Aware of Duke Wu's distrust, Wu Qi sought to leave Wei. When the State of Chu learned of Wu Qi's intention, they sent envoys with lavish gifts, inviting him to serve them. Wu Qi understood that bolstering Chu, already a powerful state, would be akin to "adding wings to a tiger," potentially making him a historical villain. After careful consideration, he nevertheless chose Chu, believing that Wei no longer held a place for him. He preferred to seek a new arena to showcase his skills. Unknown to Wu Qi, however, the influential figures in Chu also harbored apprehension towards him. Despite his prominent role, he faced constant obstruction and marginalization by other officials, hindering his reform efforts. Eventually, Wu Qi met a tragic end. Wu Qi's life serves as a testament to a brilliant yet ill-fated individual. He contributed to Wei's strength only to be rejected by the same state; he sought refuge in Chu, yet ultimately fell victim to the tragic consequences of "adding wings to a tiger."

Usage

常用作谓语、宾语、定语；形容帮助坏人，使坏人的势力更加强大。

cháng yòng zuò wèiyǔ, bǐnyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiángróng bāngzhù huài rén, shǐ huài rén de shìlì gèngjiā qiángdà。

Often used as predicate, object, and attributive; to describe helping villains and making their power stronger.

Examples

• 他为虎添翼，助纣为虐，最终受到了法律的制裁。

  tā wèi hǔ tiān yì, zhù zhòu wèi nüè, zuìzhōng shòudào le fǎlǜ de zhìcái。

  He added wings to the tiger and helped the tyrant, eventually he was punished by law.

• 不要为虎添翼，助长他的嚣张气焰。

  bùyào wèi hǔ tiān yì, zhùzhǎng tā de xiāozhang qìyàn

  Don't add wings to the tiger, fuel his arrogance

Related Idioms

• 助纣为虐

• 狐假虎威

Opposite Idioms

• 为民除害

• 除恶务尽