李代桃僵 Lǐ dài táo jiāng Li Dai Tao Jiang

Explanation

李代桃僵,指一个人为了保护另一个人的利益,而牺牲自己,或者说承担了别人应该承担的责任。这个成语出自古乐府诗《鸡鸣》,原文是“桃生露井上,李树生桃旁。虫来啮桃根,李树代桃僵。树木深相待,兄弟还相忘。”意思是说,桃树生长在露水滋润的地方,李树生长在桃树旁边。虫子来咬桃树的根,李树就代替桃树而死。树木之间尚且互相帮助,兄弟之间反而会互相遗忘。后来这个成语就用来比喻兄弟互相爱护互相帮助,后来也用来比喻互相顶替或代人受过。

Li Dai Tao Jiang means one sacrifices oneself to protect the interests of another, or takes responsibility for what others should have. This idiom is from the ancient Chinese poem "Ji Ming" (鸡鸣) in "Gu Le Fu" (古乐府). The original text is: "Tao sheng lu ying shang, Li shu sheng tao pang. Chong lai nie tao gen, Li shu dai tao jiang. Shu mu shen xiang dai, xiong di hai xiang wang." It means that a peach tree grows in a place covered with dew, and a plum tree grows beside the peach tree. When an insect bites the roots of the peach tree, the plum tree dies for the peach tree. Trees help each other, but brothers forget each other. Later, the idiom was used to describe that brothers love and support each other. Later, it was also used to describe that they replace each other or take responsibility for others.

Origin Story

从前,在一个偏僻的小村庄里,住着兄弟俩,哥哥叫李大,弟弟叫桃二。他们从小感情就很好,总是互相帮助,互相照顾。一天,李大为了救被洪水困住的村民,不幸被洪水冲走,生死不明。桃二得知哥哥的遭遇,悲痛欲绝,他四处寻找哥哥,却毫无音讯。后来,桃二听说哥哥在山里被困,便不顾危险,独自一人翻山越岭,终于找到了哥哥。李大虚弱无力,无法独自下山,桃二便背着哥哥,一步一步地走下山去。在回家途中,他们遇到了山贼,山贼想要抢劫他们,李大为了保护弟弟,奋力反抗,结果被山贼打伤了。桃二见状,连忙冲上去,用尽全力与山贼搏斗,最后,他用自己的生命保护了哥哥。村民们都说,桃二真是“李代桃僵”,为了哥哥,他甘愿牺牲自己。

cóng qián, zài yī gè piān pì de xiǎo cūn zhuāng lǐ, zhù zhe xiōng dì liǎ, gē gē jiào lǐ dà, dì dì jiào táo èr. tā men cóng xiǎo gǎn qíng jiù hěn hǎo, zǒng shì hù xiāng bāng zhù, hù xiāng zhào gù. yī tiān, lǐ dà wèi le jiù bèi hóng shuǐ kùn zhù de cūn mín, bù xìng bèi hóng shuǐ chōng zǒu, shēng sǐ bù míng. táo èr dé zhī gē gē de zāo yù, bēi tòng yù jué, tā sì chù xún zhǎo gē gē, què wú háo yīn xùn. hòu lái, táo èr tīng shuō gē gē zài shān lǐ bèi kùn, biàn bù gù wēi xiǎn, dú zì yī rén fān shān yuè lǐng, zhōng yú zhǎo dào le gē gē. lǐ dà xū ruò wú lì, wú fǎ dú zì xià shān, táo èr biàn bèi zhe gē gē, yī bù yī bù de zǒu xià shān qù. zài huí jiā tú zhōng, tā men yù dào le shān zéi, shān zéi xiǎng yào qiǎng jié tā men, lǐ dà wèi le bǎo hù dì dì, fèn lì fǎn kàng, jié guǒ bèi shān zéi dǎ shāng le. táo èr jiàn zhuàng, lián máng chōng shàng qù, yòng jìn quán lì yǔ shān zéi bó dòu, zuì hòu, tā yòng zì jǐ de shēng mìng bǎo hù le gē gē. cūn mín men dōu shuō, táo èr zhēn shì

Once upon a time, there were two brothers living in a remote village. The older brother's name was Li Da and the younger brother's name was Tao Er. They had a close relationship since childhood and always helped each other. One day, Li Da was swept away by a flood while trying to rescue villagers trapped in the flood. His fate was unknown. Tao Er was heartbroken when he heard about his brother's fate. He searched everywhere for him, but found nothing. Later, Tao Er heard that his brother was trapped in the mountains, so he went into the mountains to find his brother, regardless of the danger. Finally, he found his brother. Li Da was weak and could not go down the mountain by himself, so Tao Er carried him on his back and went down the mountain step by step. On their way home, they met bandits. The bandits wanted to rob them, but Li Da fought back bravely to protect his brother, but was injured by the bandits. Seeing this, Tao Er rushed forward and fought with all his strength against the bandits. Finally, he protected his brother with his own life. Villagers said that Tao Er was a true

Usage

这个成语主要用来形容一个人为了朋友、家人或者其他人,愿意付出自己的利益或者承受风险,甚至牺牲自己。

zhè ge chéng yǔ zhǔ yào yòng lái xíng róng yī gè rén wèi le péng yǒu, jiā rén huò zhě qí tā rén, yuàn yì fù chū zì jǐ de lì yì huò zhě chéng shòu fēng xiǎn, shèn zhì xī sheng zì jǐ.

This idiom is mainly used to describe someone who is willing to sacrifice their own interests or take risks, even sacrifice themselves, for their friends, family or other people.

Examples

  • 他为了朋友,不惜李代桃僵,替他去坐牢。

    tā wèi péng yǒu, bù xī lǐ dài táo jiāng, tì tā qù zuò láo.

    He was willing to take the rap for his friend, even though it meant going to jail.

  • 面对公司的困境,他主动承担责任,真是李代桃僵啊!

    miàn duì gōng sī de kùn jìng, tā zhǔ dòng chéng dān zé rèn, zhēn shì lǐ dài táo jiāng a!

    He took the blame for the company's difficulties, a true example of putting himself in the other's position.

  • 为了保护家人,他宁愿李代桃僵,也不愿说出真相。

    wèi le bǎo hù jiā rén, tā nìng yuàn lǐ dài táo jiāng, yě bù yuàn shuō chū zhēn xiàng

    To protect his family, he would rather take the blame than tell the truth.