强弩末矢 Qiáng nǔ mò shǐ exhausted bow and spent arrow

Explanation

比喻强大的力量已经衰弱，起不了什么作用。

A metaphor used to describe a situation where powerful force has weakened and is no longer effective.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮北伐中原，多次深入曹魏腹地，给曹魏造成了巨大的损失。但随着时间的推移，蜀汉国力日渐衰微，诸葛亮也年事已高，屡战屡败，已无力再战。一次，诸葛亮与马谡商议北伐战略，马谡乐观地认为只要采取正确的战术，仍然可以取得胜利。诸葛亮听后长叹一声，说道："强弩末矢，徒劳无功啊！"他知道，蜀汉的国力已经衰竭，即使有再好的战术，也难以扭转败局。最终，诸葛亮含恨病逝，北伐也宣告失败。这便是强弩末矢的故事，它告诫我们，任何强大的力量，在走向衰微时，都将失去作用。

huà shuō sān guó shíqí, shǔ hàn chéngxiàng zhūgé liàng běi fá zhōngyuán, duō cì shēn rù cáo wèi fùdì, gěi cáo wèi zào chéng le jùdà de sǔnshī. dàn suízhé shíjiān de tuīyí, shǔ hàn guólì rìjiàn shuāiwēi, zhūgé liàng yě nián shì yǐ gāo, lǚ zhàn lǚ bài, yǐ wúlì zài zhàn. yī cì, zhūgé liàng yǔ mǎsù shāngyì běi fá zhànlüè, mǎsù lèguān de rènwéi zhǐyào cǎiqǔ zhèngquè de zhànshù, réngrán kěyǐ qǔdé shènglì. zhūgé liàng tīng hòu cháng tàn yī shēng, shuōdào: 'qiáng nǔ mò shǐ, tú láo wú gōng a!' tā zhīdào, shǔ hàn de guólì yǐjīng shuāijié, jíshǐ yǒu zài hǎo de zhànshù, yě nán yǐ niǔzhuǎn bàijú. zuìzhōng, zhūgé liàng hán hèn bìngshì, běi fá yě xuāngào shībài. zhè biàn shì qiáng nǔ mò shǐ de gùshì, tā gàojiè wǒmen, rènhé qiángdà de lìliang, zài zǒuxiàng shuāiwēi shí, dōu jiāng shīqù zuòyòng.

During the Three Kingdoms period in China, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, led several campaigns deep into Cao Wei territory, inflicting heavy losses. However, as time went on, Shu Han's national strength gradually declined, and the elderly Zhuge Liang suffered one defeat after another. One day, Zhuge Liang discussed the strategy for another northern expedition with Ma Su. Ma Su optimistically believed that victory could still be achieved with the right tactics. But Zhuge Liang sighed deeply and said, “A bow whose arrows are already spent is useless!” He knew that Shu Han's power had been exhausted, and even the best tactics could not reverse the situation. Eventually, Zhuge Liang died of illness, and the northern expedition ended in failure. This is the story of the 'exhausted bow and arrow,' which warns us that any powerful force loses its effectiveness when it starts to decline.

Usage

形容力量衰竭，无法发挥作用。

xiáoróng lìliang shuāijié, wúfǎ fāhuī zuòyòng

Describes a situation in which strength is exhausted and can no longer produce any effect.

Examples

• 改革开放初期，一些老的管理体制已不适应新的形势，强弩末矢，力不从心。

  gǎigé kāifàng chūqī, yīxiē lǎo de guǎnlǐ tǐzhì yǐ bù shìyìng xīn de xíngshì, qiáng nǔ mò shǐ, lì bù cóng xīn.

  In the early days of reform and opening up, some old management systems were no longer suitable for the new situation. Their strength was exhausted, and they were powerless.

• 面对来势汹汹的敌人，他们虽然奋勇抵抗，但毕竟是强弩末矢，最终还是失败了。

  miàn duì láishì xióngxiōng de dírén, tāmen suīrán fèn yǒng dǐkàng, dàn bìjìng shì qiáng nǔ mò shǐ, zuìzhōng háishì shībài le.

  Despite bravely resisting, they were ultimately defeated against the fierce enemy. Their strength was like an exhausted bow, its arrows spent.

Related Idioms

• 强弩之末

• 弩箭

Opposite Idioms

• 生龙活虎

• 精力充沛