物腐虫生 — “Decaying matter breeds worms”
物腐虫生 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Worms breed in decaying matter. This idiom implies that troubles or misfortunes arise from internal weaknesses or vulnerabilities; one must have inherent flaws for others to take advantage of and inflict harm”. Literally, “Decaying matter breeds worms”.
物腐虫生 Pronunciation and Pinyin
物腐虫生 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 物腐虫生
Origin and Story of 物腐虫生
The idiom '物腐虫生' (Worms breed in decaying matter) is famously linked to a historical event from the late Qin Dynasty in China.
Fan Zeng, a strategist for Xiang Yu, had devised a plan to eliminate Liu Bang at the Hong Gate Banquet. However, due to Xiang Yu's indecisiveness, Liu Bang managed to escape.
Later, Liu Bang cunningly spread rumors to discredit Fan Zeng and drive a wedge between him and Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu, falling victim to the scheme, began to distance himself from his loyal advisor, Fan Zeng.
This internal breakdown and mistrust ultimately weakened Xiang Yu, leading to his defeat by Liu Bang.
The Song Dynasty scholar Su Shi later reflected on this in his 'Discourse on Fan Zeng,' stating, 'Things must first decay before worms are born; people must first be suspicious before slander can penetrate them.' This quote perfectly encapsulates the idiom's meaning: internal vulnerabilities or flaws are the prerequisites for external troubles or attacks.
Idioms Related to 物腐虫生
More idioms starting with 物
- wù物bù不píng平zé则míng鸣Injustice provokes a cry of discontent
- wù物yǐ以xī希wéi为guì贵rarity increases value
- wù物yǐ以xī稀wéi为guì贵Rarity increases value
- wù物yǐ以lèi类jù聚Like attracts like
- wù物yǐ以qún群fēn分Birds of a feather flock together
- wù物shāng伤qí其lèi类grieve for one's kind
- wù物lì力wéi维jiān艰resources are scarce and hard to sustain
- wù物huá华tiān天bǎo宝splendor of nature and heavenly treasures
- wù物gè各yǒu有zhǔ主everything has an owner
- wù物zài在rén人wáng亡objects remain, owner gone
- wù物jìn尽qí其yòng用make the best use of everything
- wù物guī归yuán原zhǔ主return to its rightful owner
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Open the tool →Questions about 物腐虫生
What does 物腐虫生 mean?
物腐虫生 (wù fǔ chóng shēng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Worms breed in decaying matter. This idiom implies that troubles or misfortunes arise from internal weaknesses or vulnerabilities; one must have inherent flaws for others to take advantage of and inflict harm”.
How do you pronounce 物腐虫生?
物腐虫生 is pronounced wù fǔ chóng shēng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 物腐虫生 literally mean?
Literally, 物腐虫生 means “Decaying matter breeds worms”. It is used to mean “Worms breed in decaying matter. This idiom implies that troubles or misfortunes arise from internal weaknesses or vulnerabilities; one must have inherent flaws for others to take advantage of and inflict harm”.
Where does 物腐虫生 come from?
物腐虫生 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 物腐虫生?
东西腐烂了才会生虫。比喻祸患的发生，总有内部的原因。也比喻本身有了弱点，别人才能乘机打击。