任人宰割 rèn rén zǎi gē at the mercy of others

Explanation

形容无力反抗，只能任凭别人摆布，像待宰的牲口一样任人杀害。

It describes the helplessness of being unable to resist and being at the mercy of others, like an animal waiting to be slaughtered.

Origin Story

话说在古代某个风雨飘摇的国家，由于国力衰弱，长期处于内忧外患之中。邻国虎视眈眈，百姓民不聊生。一天，一位饱经风霜的老者坐在村口，看着远处连绵起伏的群山，长叹一声说："这国家就像待宰的羔羊，任人宰割，我们这些老百姓，又该如何自处呢？"他的话语引发了周围人的共鸣。大家都知道，国家积贫积弱，已经无力抵抗外敌的侵略，只能任凭摆布，等待着命运的裁决。然而，在国家危亡之际，一些有志之士并没有放弃希望。他们开始积极地寻找改变现状的途径，有的奔走呼号，试图唤醒民众的斗志；有的秘密联络，准备组织反抗力量；有的则潜心研究，寻求强国富民的策略。在他们的努力下，国家的命运逐渐发生了转变。他们用自己的行动告诉世人，即使身处逆境，只要有坚定的信念和不懈的努力，也能改变自己的命运，摆脱任人宰割的悲惨境地。

huà shuō zài gǔdài mǒu gè fēngyǔ piāoyáo de guójiā, yóuyú guólì shuāiruò, chángqí chǔyú nèiyōu wàihuàn zhī zhōng. lín guó hǔshì dāndān, bǎixìng mín bù liáo shēng. yītiān, yī wèi bǎojīng fēngshuāng de lǎozhe zuò zài cūn kǒu, kànzhe yuǎn chù liánmián qūfú de qún shān, cháng tàn yī shēng shuō: 'zhè guójiā jiù xiàng dài zǎi de gāo yáng, rèn rén zǎi gē, wǒmen zhèxiē lǎobǎixìng, yòu gāi rúhé zì chǔ ne?' tā de huàyǔ yǐnfā le zhōuwéi rén de gòngmíng. dàjiā dōu zhīdào, guójiā jīpín jīruò, yǐjīng wú lì dǐkàng wài dí de qīnlüè, zhǐ néng rèn píng bǎibù, děngdài zhe mìngyùn de cáijué. rán'ér, zài guójiā wēiwáng zhī jì, yīxiē yǒuzhì zhī shì bìng méiyǒu fàng qì xīwàng. tāmen kāishǐ jījí de xúnzhǎo gǎibiàn xiànzhuàng de tújīng, yǒu de bēn zǒu hūháo, shìtú huànxǐng mínzhòng de dòuzhì; yǒu de mìmì liánluò, zhǔnbèi zǔzhī fǎnkàng lìliàng; yǒu de zé qiánxīn yánjiū, xúnqiú qiáng guó fùmín de cèlüè. zài tāmen de nǔlì xià, guójiā de mìngyùn zhújiàn fāshēng le zhuǎnbiàn. tāmen yòng zìjǐ de xíngdòng gàosù shìrén, jíshǐ shēn chù nìjìng, zhǐyào yǒu jiāndìng de xìnyàn hé bùxiè de nǔlì, yě néng gǎibiàn zìjǐ de mìngyùn, bǎituō rèn rén zǎi gē de bēicǎn jìngdì.

In an ancient country beset by turmoil, weakened by internal strife and external threats, an old man sat at the village entrance, sighing, "This country is like a lamb led to the slaughter, at the mercy of the powerful. What are we ordinary people to do?" His words resonated with those around him. Everyone knew that the country, impoverished and weak, was powerless against foreign invasion and could only be at the mercy of fate. However, at this moment of national crisis, some ambitious individuals did not give up hope. They actively sought ways to change the status quo. Some rallied the people, trying to awaken their fighting spirit; others secretly contacted and organized resistance forces; still others dedicated themselves to finding strategies to strengthen the country and enrich the people. Through their efforts, the country's fate gradually changed. Their actions showed that even in adversity, with firm belief and relentless effort, one can change one's destiny and escape the miserable fate of being at the mercy of others.

Usage

表示无力抵抗，任人欺辱、宰割。常用作谓语、定语、宾语。

biǎoshì wú lì dǐkàng, rèn rén qīrǔ zǎi gē

It indicates the inability to resist, and being subjected to bullying and slaughter.

Examples

• 面对强敌，他们只能任人宰割。

  miàn duì qiáng dí, tāmen zhǐ néng rèn rén zǎi gē

  Faced with a strong enemy, they could only be slaughtered.

• 弱小的国家在强权面前往往任人宰割。

  ruò xiǎo de guójiā zài qiáng quán miàn qián wǎng wǎng rèn rén zǎi gē

  Weak countries are often at the mercy of the powerful.

Related Idioms

• 任其自然

• 听天由命

Opposite Idioms

• 奋起反抗

• 积极争取