只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

Traditional: 只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈

zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng

Dictionary entry

only the official is allowed to light the fire

What does 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 mean?

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 (zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng) has the following dictionary meaning.

1only the official is allowed to light the fire

2Gods may do what cattle may not

3quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

Character breakdown

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只zhīvariant of 隻|只[zhi1]许Xǔsurname Xu 州zhōuprefecture · (old) province 官Guānsurname Guan 放fàngto put · to place 火Huǒsurname Huo 不bùno; not so · (bound form) not; un-百Bǎisurname Bai

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How to pronounce 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.