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