鸡鸣狗盗 Jī míng gǒu dào Cock-crow and dog-theft

Explanation

指微不足道的技能或偷偷摸摸的行为。

Refers to insignificant skills or sneaky behavior.

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国有个著名的丞相叫孟尝君，他门客众多，其中不乏奇人异士。一次，孟尝君出使秦国，秦昭王忌妒他的才能，将他软禁起来，企图杀害他。孟尝君的门客们想尽办法帮助他逃脱。一位门客夜里潜入秦宫，偷回了孟尝君最珍爱的狐白裘；另一位门客学鸡叫，引得秦宫鸡鸣一片，趁乱打开城门，孟尝君顺利逃回齐国。虽然这些行为有点偷偷摸摸，但也体现了门客们的忠心和智慧，以及他们各自拥有的独特技能。这个故事不仅体现了孟尝君的门客们为了救他所表现出的机智和勇敢，同时也说明即使是鸡鸣狗盗的小技，在关键时刻也可能发挥出意想不到的作用。

zhànguó shíqí, qí guó yǒu gè zhùmíng de chéngxiàng jiào mèng cháng jūn, tā ménkè zhòngduō, qízhōng bù fá qírén yìshì. yī cì, mèng cháng jūn chūshǐ qín guó, qín zhāowáng jìdù tā de cáinéng, jiāng tā ruǎnjìn qǐlái, qǐtú shā hài tā. mèng cháng jūn de ménkèmen xiǎng jǐn bànfǎ bāngzhù tā táotuō. yī wèi ménkè yè lǐ qiányūrù qín gōng, tōu huí le mèng cháng jūn zuì zhēn'ài de hú bái qiú; lìng yī wèi ménkè xué jī jiào, yǐn de qín gōng jī míng yīpiàn, chèn luàn dǎkāi chéngmén, mèng cháng jūn shùnlì táohuí qí guó. suīrán zhèxiē xíngwéi yǒudiǎn tōutōu mōmō, dàn yě tǐxiàn le ménkèmen de zhōngxīn hé zhìhuì, yǐjí tāmen gèzì yǒngyǒu de dúlì jìnéng. zhège gùshì bùjǐn tǐxiàn le mèng cháng jūn de ménkèmen wèile jiù tā suǒ biǎoxiàn chū de jīzhì hé yǒnggǎn, tóngshí yě shuōmíng jíshǐ shì jī míng gǒu dào de xiǎojì, zài guānjiàn shí kè yě kěnéng fāhuī chū yìxiǎng bùdào de zuòyòng.

During the Warring States period, there was a famous prime minister in the state of Qi named Meng Changjun, who had many followers, including unusual and talented people. Once, Meng Changjun went to the state of Qin, and King Zhao of Qin envied his talent and kept him under house arrest, intending to murder him. Meng Changjun's followers tried their best to help him escape. One follower sneaked into the Qin palace at night and stole back Meng Changjun's precious white fox fur; another follower imitated the crowing of a rooster, attracting all the roosters in the Qin palace to crow, and taking advantage of the chaos to open the city gate, Meng Changjun successfully escaped back to Qi. Although this behavior was somewhat sneaky, it also showed the loyalty and wisdom of the followers and their unique skills. This story not only shows the ingenuity and bravery of Meng Changjun's followers in saving him, but also illustrates that even small tricks can play an unexpected role at a critical moment.

Usage

常用来形容微不足道的技能或偷偷摸摸的行为。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng wēi bùzúdào de jìnéng huò tōutōu mōmō de xíngwéi

Often used to describe insignificant skills or sneaky behavior.

Examples

• 他那些鸡鸣狗盗的伎俩，骗不了人。

  tā nàxiē jī míng gǒu dào de jìliǎo, piànbule rén

  His petty tricks can't fool anyone.

• 他们做的事情都是些鸡鸣狗盗的小事。

  tāmen zuò de shìqíng dōu shì xiē jī míng gǒu dào de xiǎoshì

  What they do are some trivial matters.

Related Idioms

• 偷鸡摸狗

• 蝇营狗苟

Opposite Idioms

• 正大光明

• 光明磊落