以其人之道，还治其人之身 yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn Give tit for tat

Explanation

指用同样的方法对付对方。常用语谴责对方的不道德行为。

Refers to using the same method to deal with the opponent. Often used to condemn the opponent's immoral behavior.

Origin Story

从前，在一个小山村里住着一位名叫张老汉的老人。他为人善良，乐于助人，深受乡邻们的敬爱。可是，村里住着一位名叫李老头的恶霸，他仗着自己家境殷实，经常欺压乡邻，横行霸道。一天，李老头看中了张老汉家的那头耕牛，便硬说是张老汉偷了他的牛，并扬言要将张老汉告到官府。张老汉有苦说不出，只能忍气吞声。这件事传到了村长耳朵里，村长知道李老头仗势欺人，便想了一个办法，他暗中找到李老头，假装劝他息事宁人。李老头以为村长怕了他，便变本加厉地要求张老汉赔偿他一大笔钱。村长便以其人之道，还治其人之身，他暗中联系了李老头的债主，让债主上门讨债，李老头一时间无法偿还巨额债务，只能向张老汉赔礼道歉。从此以后，李老头再也不敢欺压乡邻了。

cóngqián, zài yīgè xiǎoshān cūn lǐ zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào zhāng lǎohàn de lǎorén. tā wéirén shànliáng, lè yú zhù rén, shēn shòu xiānglín men de jìng'ài. kěshì, cūn lǐ zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào lǐ lǎotóu de èbà, tā zhàngzhe zìjǐ jiā jìng yīnshí, jīngcháng qīyā xiānglín, héngxíng bàdào. yī tiān, lǐ lǎotóu kàn zhòng le zhāng lǎohàn jiā de nà tóu gēng niú, biàn yìng shuō shì zhāng lǎohàn tōu le tā de niú, bìng yángyán yào jiāng zhāng lǎohàn gào dào guānfǔ. zhāng lǎohàn yǒu kǔ shuō bù chū, zhǐ néng rěn qì tūn shēng. zhè jiàn shì chuán dào le cūnzhǎng ěrduo lǐ, cūnzhǎng zhīdào lǐ lǎotóu zhàngshì qī rén, biàn xiǎng le yīgè bànfǎ, tā ànzhōng zhǎodào lǐ lǎotóu, jiǎzhuāng quàn tā xīsì nìngrén. lǐ lǎotóu yǐwéi cūnzhǎng pà le tā, biàn biànběn jiālì de yāoqiú zhāng lǎohàn péicháng tā yī dà bǐ qián. cūnzhǎng biàn yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn, tā ànzhōng liánxì le lǐ lǎotóu de zhài zhǔ, ràng zhài zhǔ shàngmén tǎo zhài, lǐ lǎotóu yīshíjiān wúfǎ chánghuán jù'é zhàiwù, zhǐ néng xiàng zhāng lǎohàn péilǐ dàoqiàn. cóng cǐ yǐhòu, lǐ lǎotóu zài yě gǎn bù dǎi qīyā xiānglín le.

Once upon a time, there lived an old man named Zhang Lao Han in a small mountain village. He was kind and helpful and was deeply loved by his neighbors. However, there lived a bully named Li Laotou in the village, who used his wealth to oppress his neighbors. One day, Li Laotou took a fancy to Zhang Lao Han's ox and claimed that Zhang Lao Han stole it and threatened to take Zhang Lao Han to the officials. Zhang Lao Han was speechless and could only swallow his anger. This matter reached the village head, who knew that Li Laotou was using his power to oppress others. He secretly contacted Li Laotou's creditors and asked them to collect the debts. Li Laotou was unable to repay the huge debt for a while and had to apologize to Zhang Lao Han. Since then, Li Laotou never dared to oppress his neighbors again.

Usage

用于谴责或讽刺那些以不正当手段达到目的的人。

yòngyú qiǎnzé huò fěngcì nàxiē yǐ bù zhèngdàng shǒuduàn dádào mùdì de rén.

Used to condemn or satirize those who use improper means to achieve their goals.

Examples

• 面对竞争对手的恶意竞争，我们只能以其人之道，还治其人之身。

  miànduì jìngzhēng duìshǒu de èyì jìngzhēng, wǒmen zhǐ néng yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn.

  Faced with malicious competition from competitors, we can only fight back in the same way.

• 小偷用偷窃的手段偷走了老张的钱包，老张报了警，最终小偷被绳之以法，也算是以其人之道，还治其人之身了。

  xiǎotōu yòng tōuqiè de shǒuduàn tōu zǒu le lǎo zhāng de qiánbāo, lǎo zhāng bào le jǐng, zuìzhōng xiǎotōu bèi shéng zhī yǐ fǎ, yě suàn shì yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn le.

  A thief stole Old Zhang's wallet by stealing. Old Zhang called the police, and finally the thief was brought to justice, which is also a way to fight back in the same way.

Related Idioms

• 以牙还牙

• 同归于尽

Opposite Idioms

• 宽宏大量

• 忍辱负重