落井下石 luò jǐng xià shí To throw stones into a well

Explanation

这个成语比喻在别人遇到困难时，不仅不帮助，反而落井下石，加害于人。

This idiom describes someone who not only does not help when someone is in trouble, but also deliberately harms them.

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国有一位名叫孟尝君的贵族，他非常喜欢养狗。一天，孟尝君带着他的爱犬出门散步，走到一个深井边时，爱犬不小心掉进了井里。孟尝君非常着急，立即叫人去救狗，可是井深不见底，大家束手无策。这时，一个农民走过来，他指着井口说：“先生，您不用担心，我有一个办法可以救狗。”孟尝君赶忙问道：“什么办法？”农民说：“您只需要找一根长长的绳子，一头系上一个大石头，然后扔进井里，再把绳子的另一端绑在狗的脖子上，这样就可以把狗拉上来。”孟尝君听了农民的话，马上就照做，果然把爱犬救了上来。孟尝君非常感激农民，就问他：“你叫什么名字？”农民说：“我叫田文。”孟尝君对田文说：“你真是一个聪明人，我以后一定好好报答你。”田文笑着说：“先生不用客气，我不过是想帮助您救狗而已。” 从此，孟尝君和田文成了好朋友，田文也因为他的智慧和忠诚而受到孟尝君的重用。

zhàn guó shí qī, qí guó yǒu yī wèi jiào mèng cháng jūn de guì zú, tā fēi cháng xǐ huan yǎng gǒu. yī tiān, mèng cháng jūn dài zhe tā de ài quǎn chū mén sàn bù, zǒu dào yī ge shēn jǐng biān shí, ài quǎn bù xiǎo xīn diào jìn le jǐng lǐ. mèng cháng jūn fēi cháng zháo jí, lì jí jiào rén qù jiù gǒu, kě shì jǐng shēn bù jiàn dǐ, dà jiā shù shǒu wú cè. zhè shí, yī ge nóng mín zǒu guò lái, tā zhǐ zhe jǐng kǒu shuō: “xiān shēng, nín bù yòng dān xīn, wǒ yǒu yī ge bàn fǎ kě yǐ jiù gǒu.” mèng cháng jūn gǎn máng wèn dào: “shén me bàn fǎ?” nóng mín shuō: “nín zhǐ xū yào zhǎo yī gēn cháng cháng de shéng zi, yī tóu xì shàng yī ge dà shí tou, rán hòu rēng jìn jǐng lǐ, zài bǎ shéng zi de lìng yī duān bǎng zài gǒu de bó zi shàng, zhè yàng jiù kě yǐ bǎ gǒu lā shàng lái.” mèng cháng jūn tīng le nóng mín de huà, mǎ shàng jiù zhào zuò, guǒ rán bǎ ài quǎn jiù le shàng lái. mèng cháng jūn fēi cháng gǎn jī nóng mín, jiù wèn tā: “nǐ jiào shén me míng zi?” nóng mín shuō: “wǒ jiào tián wén.” mèng cháng jūn duì tián wén shuō: “nǐ zhēn de shì yī ge cōng ming rén, wǒ yǐ hòu yī dìng hǎo hǎo bào dá nǐ.” tián wén xiào zhe shuō: “xiān shēng bù yòng kè qì, wǒ bù guò shì xiǎng bāng zhù nín jiù gǒu ér yǐ.” cóng cǐ, mèng cháng jūn hé tián wén chéng le hǎo péng yǒu, tián wén yě yīn wèi tā de zhì huì hé zhōng chéng ér shòu dào mèng cháng jūn de zhòng yòng.

During the Warring States Period in China, there was a noble named Mengchangjun who loved to keep dogs. One day, Mengchangjun was walking with his beloved dog when the dog accidentally fell into a deep well. Mengchangjun was very worried and immediately called for people to rescue the dog, but the well was so deep that everyone was at a loss. At this time, a farmer walked over and pointed to the mouth of the well, saying: “Sir, don’t worry, I have a way to save the dog.” Mengchangjun hurriedly asked: “What is the way?” The farmer said: “You just need to find a long rope, tie a big stone to one end, and then throw the rope into the well. Then tie the other end of the rope around the dog’s neck. In this way, you can pull the dog up.” Mengchangjun listened to the farmer’s words and immediately did as he said. Sure enough, he rescued his beloved dog. Mengchangjun was very grateful to the farmer and asked him: “What is your name?” The farmer said: “My name is Tianwen.” Mengchangjun said to Tianwen: “You are a wise man, I will surely repay you in the future.” Tianwen smiled and said: “Sir, you’re welcome, I just wanted to help you rescue your dog.” From that day on, Mengchangjun and Tianwen became good friends, and Tianwen was also valued by Mengchangjun for his wisdom and loyalty.

Usage

这个成语通常用来形容那些在别人遇到困难时，不仅不帮助，反而落井下石，加害于人的行为。

zhè ge chéng yǔ tóng cháng yòng lái xíng róng nà xiē zài bié rén yù dào kùn nan shí, bù jǐn bù bāng zhù, fǎn ér luò jǐng xià shí, jiā hài yú rén de xíng wéi.

This idiom is commonly used to describe people who not only don’t help when someone is in trouble, but also deliberately harm them.

Examples

• 他落井下石，趁机夺走了我的财产。

  tā luò jǐng xià shí, chèn jī duó zǒu le wǒ de cái chǎn.

  He took advantage of my misfortune and stole my property.

• 在这个困难时刻，他们落井下石，真是令人寒心。

  zài zhè ge kùn nan shí kè, tā men luò jǐng xià shí, zhēn de lìng rén hán xīn

  They took advantage of my misfortune at this difficult time, which is really chilling.

Related Idioms

• 趁火打劫

• 落井下石

• 落井投石

• 落井石

• 乘人之危

Opposite Idioms

• 助人为乐

• 雪中送炭

• 相濡以沫