玩火自焚 wán huǒ zì fén playing with fire

Explanation

玩火自焚是一个成语,意思是玩弄火的人一定会被烧到。比喻做冒险或害人的事情,最终只会害到自己。

"Playing with fire and getting burned" is an idiom that means whoever plays with fire will eventually get burned. It's a metaphor for a risky or harmful action that ultimately harms the person who performs it.

Origin Story

春秋时期,卫国公子州吁弑兄篡位,骄横跋扈,与宋、陈、蔡等国勾结,攻打郑国。鲁隐公向大臣众仲询问此事,众仲担忧地说:‘州吁残暴不仁,必然会自取灭亡。用兵如同用火,不加节制就会烧到自己。’果然,州吁的残暴行径激起民愤,不久后便被卫国人联合陈国攻杀,应验了众仲的预言。

chūnqiū shíqī, wèiguó gōngzǐ zhōuxū shì xiōng zuànwèi, jiāohèng báhù, yǔ sòng chén cài děng guó gōujié, gōngdǎ zhèng guó. lǔ yǐng gōng xiàng dà chén zhòng zhōng xúnwèn cǐ shì, zhòng zhōng dānyōu de shuō: ‘zhōuxū cánbào bù rén, bìrán huì zì qǔ mièwáng. yòng bīng rútóng yòng huǒ, bùjiā jiézhì jiù huì shāo dào zìjǐ.’ guǒrán, zhōuxū de cánbào xíngjìng jīqǐ mínfèn, bùjiǔ hòu biàn bèi wèiguó rén liánhé chén guó gōng shā, yìngyàn le zhòng zhōng de yǔyán.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Prince Zhouyu of Wei killed his brother and usurped the throne. He was arrogant and tyrannical, and colluded with the states of Song, Chen, and Cai to attack Zheng. The Duke Yin of Lu asked his minister Zhongzhong for his opinion on this matter. Zhongzhong worriedly said, ‘Zhouyu's cruelty and wickedness will inevitably lead to his own demise. Waging war is like playing with fire; if not controlled, it will burn oneself.’ Indeed, Zhouyu's tyranny sparked public outrage, and shortly thereafter he was killed by the people of Wei in alliance with Chen, proving Zhongzhong's prediction correct.

Usage

主要用于比喻干冒险或害人的事,结果害了自己。

zhǔyào yòng yú bǐyù gàn màoxiǎn huò hàirén de shì, jiéguǒ hài le zìjǐ.

It is mainly used to describe that when doing something risky or harmful, you end up harming yourself.

Examples

  • 他玩忽职守,最终玩火自焚,被公司开除。

    tā wánhu zhíshǒu, zuìzhōng wán huǒ zì fén, bèi gōngsī kāichú

    He neglected his duties and ultimately suffered the consequences of his reckless actions by being fired from the company.

  • 不要试图挑战法律,否则玩火自焚,自食其果。

    bùyào shìtú tiǎozhàn fǎlǜ, fǒuzé wán huǒ zì fén, zìshí qíguǒ

    Don't try to challenge the law; otherwise, you will burn yourself and suffer the consequences.