投鼠忌器

tóu shǔ jì qì

Dictionary entry

lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)

What does 投鼠忌器 mean?

投鼠忌器 (tóu shǔ jì qì) has the following dictionary meaning.

1lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)

2to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents

Character breakdown

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投tóuto throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc) · to cast (a ballot)鼠shǔ(bound form) rat; mouse 忌jìto be jealous of · fear 器qìdevice · tool

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 投鼠忌器

投鼠忌器

tóu shǔ jì qì

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