以铢称镒 yǐ zhū chēng yì Weighing a Zhu as an Yi

Explanation

用极轻的铢来衡量极重的镒，比喻力量悬殊，处于绝对劣势。

To weigh something heavy (Yi) with something very light (Zhu), to illustrate the disparity of power and being in an absolutely inferior position.

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国军队强大，而燕国军队相对弱小。燕国谋士苏秦为了劝退齐威王，向齐威王讲述了一个故事：从前，有一个大力士，他可以轻松举起千斤重物，而我军就像一只小小的蚂蚁，无论如何努力，也无法撼动他的力量。这如同以铢称镒，我们根本无法与齐国抗衡。齐威王听了这个故事后，意识到燕国军队实力远不如齐国，最终放弃了侵略燕国的计划。

zhàn guó shí qī, qí guó jūn duì qiáng dà, ér yàn guó jūn duì xiāng duì ruò xiǎo. yàn guó móu shì sū qín wèi le quàn tuì qí wēi wáng, xiàng qí wēi wáng jiǎng shù le yīgè gù shì: cóng qián, yǒu yīgè dà lì shì, tā kě yǐ qīng sōng jǔ qǐ qiān jīn zhòng wù, ér wǒ jūn jiù xiàng yī zhī xiǎo xiǎo de mà yǐ, wú lùn rú hé nǔ lì, yě wú fǎ hàn dòng tā de lì liàng. zhè rú tóng yǐ zhū chēng yì, wǒ men gēn běn wú fǎ yǔ qí guó kàng héng. qí wēi wáng tīng le zhège gù shì hòu, yì shí dào yàn guó jūn duì shí lì yuǎn bù rú qí guó, zuì zhōng fàng qì le qīn luè yàn guó de jì huà.

During the Warring States period, the Qi state's army was powerful, while the Yan state's army was relatively weak. To dissuade King Hui of Qi from attacking, Yan's strategist Su Qin told a story: Once there was a strong man who could easily lift a thousand pounds; our army is like a tiny ant who cannot challenge the strong man, no matter how hard it tries. This is like comparing a grain of rice to a pound of gold; we simply cannot contend with Qi. After hearing this, King Hui realized the Yan state's army was much weaker than his own, and abandoned his plans to invade.

Usage

用以形容力量悬殊，处于绝对劣势。

yòng yǐ xiáng róng lì liàng xuán shū, chǔ yú jué duì liè shì

Used to describe a huge disparity in strength and being in an absolutely inferior position.

Examples

• 敌军兵力雄厚，我军以弱胜强，实乃以铢称镒。

  dí jūn bīng lì xióng hòu, wǒ jūn yǐ ruò shèng qiáng, shí nǎi yǐ zhū chēng yì

  The enemy is strong, and our army is weak. It's like comparing a grain of rice to a pound of gold.

• 面对强大的对手，我们虽然力量微薄，但也绝不轻言放弃，决不能以铢称镒，自甘落后。

  miàn duì qiáng dà de duì shǒu, wǒ men suī rán lì liàng wēi bó, dàn yě jué bù qīng yán fàng qì, jué bù néng yǐ zhū chēng yì, zì gān luò hòu

  Faced with a strong opponent, although our strength is small, we will never give up easily, and we must not accept inferiority and fall behind.

Related Idioms

• 势如破竹

• 轻敌

Opposite Idioms

• 以镒称铢