暗箭伤人 (Àn jiàn shāng rén)

Basic Info

• Chinese Idiom: 暗箭伤人 (Àn jiàn shāng rén)
• Pinyin: àn jiàn shāng rén
• Literal meaning: “A hidden arrow wounds a person.”
  (暗 = hidden / secret / from the dark; 箭 = arrow; 伤 = to wound / harm; 人 = person)

Figurative Definition

It means to harm someone through secret, underhanded means – to attack a person covertly, with malice and deception, rather than confronting them openly. The “arrow” is metaphorical: it can be a rumor, a slander, a sabotage, a betrayal, or any sneaky act designed to hurt someone while the attacker stays hidden.

It is closely related to “暗箭难防” (àn jiàn nán fáng – “a hidden arrow is hard to guard against”), but the focus is different:

• 暗箭难防: The difficulty of defending against secret attacks.
• 暗箭伤人: The act of attacking someone secretly and maliciously.

In short: to wound someone from the shadows.

Cultural & Historical Origin

This idiom comes from the Song Dynasty scholar Liu Yan (刘炎), in his work Eryuan (《迩言》), Volume 6.

The original passage says:

“暗箭伤人，其深次骨，人之怨之，亦必次骨，以其掩人所不备也。”

“When a hidden arrow wounds a person, the wound goes deep to the bone. And people’s resentment toward the attacker will also go deep to the bone – because the attack struck when the person was unprepared.”

Liu Yan’s observation is psychologically sharp: secret attacks hurt more than open ones, for two reasons:

1. They strike without warning – the victim cannot defend themselves.
2. They feel like betrayal – the attacker hides, denies responsibility, and often pretends to be a friend.

The resentment such attacks provoke is therefore deep and lasting – “to the bone.”

Key Lesson

Secret malice wounds more deeply than open conflict. An honest enemy you can respect; a hidden attacker you cannot forgive. The idiom warns against treachery and cowardice – striking from the shadows is not strength, but a sign of moral weakness. It also reminds the injured party: not all wounds are physical, and not all attackers show their faces. Stay alert to deceit, but never become the one who shoots from the dark.

Cultural Note

In modern Chinese, “暗箭伤人” is a strong criticism of underhanded behavior. It appears in:

• Workplace politics – describing colleagues who spread rumors or sabotage behind someone’s back.
• Political commentary – criticizing covert attacks on rivals.
• Personal relationships – warning against “friends” who secretly undermine you.
• Literature and drama – portraying villains who scheme in the shadows.

It is closely related to “暗箭难防” (the defense side) and “明枪易躲，暗箭难防” (the full proverb). Its opposite is “明人不做暗事” (míng rén bù zuò àn shì – “an honest person does not do things in the dark”).

The idiom carries a strong moral judgment: the attacker is not clever or admirable, but despicable – because they lack the courage to confront openly.

Similar English Expressions

• A stab in the back – The closest and most natural equivalent – a treacherous, secret betrayal.
• To stab someone in the back – The verb form of the same idea.
• A cheap shot – An unfair, sneaky attack (more informal).
• Below the belt – An unfair or dishonorable attack.
• To backstab – To betray someone secretly.
• Snakes in the grass – Hidden enemies who strike without warning.
• To hit below the belt – To attack unfairly or cruelly.
• Character assassination – A modern term for destroying someone’s reputation through covert attacks.

The closest and most natural equivalents are “a stab in the back,” “to backstab,” and “a cheap shot.”

In short, “暗箭伤人” means a hidden arrow wounds a person – a sharp image of secret malice, and a timeless warning that treachery cuts deeper than open conflict, and that the one who strikes from the shadows is the one who deserves the deepest resentment.