Warring States Records

  • 三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ)

    Basic Info Chinese Idiom: 三人成虎Pinyin: sān rén chéng hǔLiteral Meaning: Three people claiming there is a tiger creates belief in a tiger.Figurative Meaning: False reports, rumors or hearsay, when repeated over and over by multiple people, will gradually convince others to treat them as truth. Cultural & historical background This story comes from the…

  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu)

    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 高枕无忧Pinyin: gāo zhěn wú yōuLiteral Meaning: Prop one’s pillow high and sleep without worry. Figurative definition Cultural & historical background This idiom comes directly from the same famous story as “狡兔三窟” (The cunning rabbit has three burrows), recorded in the Warring States Records (Zhanguoce, 《战国策》). The powerful noble Lord Mengchang…