借刀杀人 jiè dāo shā rén to use someone else to kill someone

Explanation

比喻利用别人的力量达到自己的目的，暗中害人。

To use someone else's power to achieve one's own goals, harming others secretly.

Origin Story

三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮病重，他知道自己不久于人世，为了蜀汉的未来，他精心设计了一个计划来铲除魏延这个潜在的威胁。魏延素来骄横，诸葛亮早就对他有所不满，但他担心直接处置魏延会引起军心动荡，于是决定借刀杀人。诸葛亮临终前留下遗嘱，由杨仪负责处理后事。他给杨仪留下了一份密信，里面详细记载了处置魏延的策略，而这封信只有杨仪才能看懂。与此同时，诸葛亮还故意在魏延面前表现出对魏延的重用和信任，以麻痹魏延的警惕性。魏延果然中计，对诸葛亮的安排毫无怀疑。诸葛亮去世后，杨仪按照诸葛亮的计划行事，他巧妙地利用了魏延的野心和傲慢，在一次军事行动中，成功地将魏延诱杀。魏延死后，蜀汉政局稳定，避免了更大的内乱。诸葛亮运用借刀杀人的策略，不动声色地除掉了魏延，维护了蜀汉的稳定，这既体现了他的智慧，也体现了他的高超的政治手腕。

sānguó shíqī, shǔ hàn chéngxiàng zhūgěliàng bìng zhòng, tā zhīdào zìjǐ bùjiǔ yú rén shì, wèile shǔ hàn de wèilái, tā jīngxīn shèjì le yīgè jìhuà lái chǎnchú wèi yán zhège qiányán de wēixié. wèi yán sù lái jiāohèng, zhūgěliàng zǎo jiù duì tā yǒusuǒ bù mǎn, dàn tā dānxīn zhíjiē chǔzhì wèi yán huì yǐnqǐ jūnxīn dòngdàng, yúshì juédìng jiè dāo shā rén. zhūgěliàng línzhōng qián liú xià yízhǔ, yóu yáng yí fùzé chǔlǐ hòushì. tā gěi yáng yí liú xià le yī fèn mìxìn, lǐmiàn xiángxì jìzǎi le chǔzhì wèi yán de cèlüè, ér zhè fēng xìn zhǐyǒu yáng yí cái néng kàndǒng. yú cǐ tóngshí, zhūgěliàng hái gùyì zài wèi yán miànqián biǎoxiàn chū duì wèi yán de zhòngyòng hé xìnrèn, yǐ mábī wèi yán de jǐngjìxìng. wèi yán guǒrán zhōng jì, duì zhūgěliàng de ānpái háo wú huáiyí. zhūgěliàng qùshì hòu, yáng yí àn zhào zhūgěliàng de jìhuà xíngshì, tā qiǎomiào de lìyòng le wèi yán de yéxīn hé àomàn, zài yī cì jūnshì xíngdòng zhōng, chénggōng de jiāng wèi yán yòushā. wèi yán sǐ hòu, shǔ hàn zhèngjú wěndìng, bìmiǎn le gèng dà de nèiluàn. zhūgěliàng yùnyòng jiè dāo shā rén de cèlüè, bù dòng shēngsè de chú diào le wèi yán, wéihù le shǔ hàn de wěndìng, zhè jì tǐxiàn le tā de zhìhuì, yě tǐxiàn le tā de gāochāo de zhèngzhì shǒuwàn

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Han, fell gravely ill. Knowing his time was short, he devised a plan to eliminate the potential threat posed by Wei Yan, a proud general known for his arrogance. Zhuge Liang, while wary of Wei Yan's ambition, feared that directly confronting him would cause unrest within the army. He decided to use a cunning strategy of eliminating him indirectly. Before his death, Zhuge Liang left instructions with Yang Yi, his trusted officer, to take care of the arrangements after his passing. He gave Yang Yi a secret letter detailing a plan to deal with Wei Yan. Only Yang Yi could understand this message. Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang publicly expressed his trust in Wei Yan, lulling him into a false sense of security. Wei Yan fell for the ruse, completely unsuspicious. Following Zhuge Liang's death, Yang Yi meticulously executed the plan. Taking advantage of Wei Yan's arrogance and ambition, he maneuvered a situation that led to Wei Yan's death. With Wei Yan eliminated, Shu Han avoided further internal strife. Zhuge Liang's use of indirect methods showed his wisdom and political prowess. He successfully removed a dangerous threat without causing unnecessary turmoil.

Usage

常用作谓语、宾语、定语；比喻暗中利用别人的力量去害人。

cháng yòng zuò wèiyǔ, bǐnyǔ, dìngyǔ; bǐyù ànzhōng lìyòng biérén de lìliàng qù hài rén

Often used as predicate, object, and attributive; to describe indirectly using the power of others to harm others.

Examples

• 他暗中使坏，借刀杀人，害死了他的政敌。

  tā ànzhōng shǐhuài, jiè dāo shā rén, hàisǐ le tā de zhèngdí

  He secretly did harm, using others to kill his political enemy.

• 这个阴险的人总是借刀杀人，自己躲在背后。

  zhège yīnxian de rén zǒngshì jiè dāo shā rén, zìjǐ duǒ zài bèihòu

  This insidious person always uses others to kill, hiding behind the scenes

Related Idioms

• 搬弄是非

• 挑拨离间

Opposite Idioms

• 亲自动手

• 亲自去做