秣马厉兵 mò mǎ lì bīng Feed horses, sharpen weapons

Explanation

“秣马厉兵”指喂好马，磨好兵器，形容准备战斗。这个成语出自《左传·成公十六年》。

“Mò mǎ lì bīng” means to feed the horses and sharpen the weapons, describing preparations for battle. This idiom comes from the Zuo Zhuan, Cheng Gong's sixteenth year.

Origin Story

春秋时期，晋国和秦国为了争夺霸权，展开了激烈的对抗。晋文公为了应对秦国的强大攻势，下令全国上下秣马厉兵，积极备战。他亲自巡视军营，检查士兵的训练情况，确保武器装备齐全，粮草充足。经过长时间的准备，晋军最终以强大的实力打败了秦国，巩固了晋国的霸主地位。这次战争也成为春秋时期一次重要的军事行动，体现了晋文公的英明决策和晋国人民的团结抗敌精神。晋文公的成功也离不开他事前充分的准备，正是因为他秣马厉兵，才使得晋国能够在战争中取得最终的胜利。这充分说明了充分准备的重要性，预示着在任何事情中，充分的准备都是成功的基石。

Chunqiu shiqi, Jinguo he Qinguo weile zhengduo baquan, zhankaile jilie de duikang. Jinwengong weile yingdui Qinguode qiangda gongshi,xialing quanguo shangxia moma libing, jiji beizhan. Ta qiren xunshi junying, jiancha bingside xunlian qingkuang, quebao wuqi zhuangbei qiquan,liangcao chongzu. Jingguo changshijian de zhunbei, Jinjun zhongyu yi qiangda de shili dabaile Qinguo, gonggu le Jinguode bazhu didiwei. Zheci zhanzheng ye chengwei Chunqiu shiqi yici zhongyaode junshi xingdong, tixianle Jinwengong de yingming juece he Jinguo renmin de tuanjie kangdi jingshen. Jinwengong de chenggong ye lifukai ta shiqian chongfen de zhunbei, zhengshi yinwei ta moma libing, cai shide Jinguo nenggou zai zhanzheng zhong qude zuihou de shengli. Zhe chongfen shuoming le chongfen zhunbei de zhongyaoxing, yushi zhe zai renhe shiqing zhong, chongfen de zhunbei dou shi chenggong de jishi.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the states of Jin and Qin fought fiercely for hegemony. To counter Qin's strong offensive, Duke Wen of Jin ordered the whole country to prepare for war. He personally inspected the military camps, checked the soldiers' training, and ensured that weapons and equipment were complete and supplies were sufficient. After a long period of preparation, the Jin army finally defeated Qin with its powerful strength and consolidated Jin's dominant position. This war also became an important military operation during the Spring and Autumn period, reflecting Duke Wen's wise decision-making and the united spirit of the Jin people in resisting the enemy. Duke Wen's success was also inseparable from his thorough preparation. It was because he prepared for war that Jin was able to win the war. This fully illustrates the importance of sufficient preparation, indicating that sufficient preparation is the cornerstone of success in anything.

Usage

“秣马厉兵”常用来形容军队或个人为战斗或竞争做好充分准备。

moma libing chang yonglai xingrong jundui huo geren wei zhandou huo jingzheng zuohao chongfen zhunbei

“Mò mǎ lì bīng” is often used to describe how an army or an individual makes thorough preparations for battle or competition.

Examples

• 两军对垒，秣马厉兵，一场大战即将爆发。

  liangjun duilei, moma libing, yichang dazhan jijiang bao fa.

  The two armies are poised for battle, having prepared their horses and sharpened their weapons.

• 为了迎接即将到来的挑战，他们正秣马厉兵，积极准备。

  weile yingjie jijiang daolaide tiaozhan, tamen zheng moma libing, jiji zhunbei

  In preparation for the upcoming challenges, they are sharpening their weapons and preparing their horses, ready to face whatever comes their way.

Related Idioms

• 厉兵秣马

• 严阵以待

Opposite Idioms

• 偃旗息鼓

• 休养生息