割地求和 cede territory for peace
Explanation
割让土地,以换取和平。通常指弱国在实力悬殊的情况下,为了避免战争而采取的无奈之举。
To cede territory in exchange for peace. Usually refers to the helpless act taken by a weak country to avoid war when the strengths are significantly different.
Origin Story
战国时期,秦国强大无比,屡次攻打其他诸侯国。赵国面对秦军的强大攻势,无力抵挡,国土屡遭侵占。赵王无奈之下,只得派使者前往秦国,请求议和。秦王狮子大开口,提出要割让大片土地作为条件。赵王虽然心痛,但为了避免国家灭亡,最终还是忍痛割地求和,签订了屈辱的条约。此后,赵国虽然保住了国家,但实力大损,在诸侯国中的地位也一落千丈。
During the Warring States period, the Qin state was incredibly powerful and repeatedly attacked other vassal states. Faced with the Qin army's powerful offensive, the Zhao state was unable to resist, and its territory was repeatedly invaded. Desperate, the Zhao king sent envoys to the Qin state to request peace. The Qin king made exorbitant demands, requiring the cession of vast tracts of land. Although heartbroken, the Zhao king, to avoid the destruction of his state, ultimately made the painful decision to cede land for peace, signing a humiliating treaty. Afterwards, Zhao state survived but was greatly weakened, its status among the vassal states plummeting.
Usage
用于形容国家或政治势力在实力不济的情况下,为了避免更大的损失而被迫割地求和的行为。
Used to describe the act of a country or political force being forced to cede territory for peace in order to avoid greater losses when its strength is insufficient.
Examples
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为了避免战争,国家最终选择割地求和。
wèile bìmiǎn zhànzhēng, guójiā zuìzhōng xuǎnzé gēdì qiúhé
To avoid war, the country finally chose to cede territory for peace.
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历史上,许多弱国都曾被迫割地求和。
lìshǐ shàng, xǔduō ruòguó dōu céng bèipò gēdì qiúhé
Throughout history, many weak countries have been forced to cede territory for peace.