版筑饭牛 — “To rise from humble beginnings to a position of importance”
版筑饭牛 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to rise from humble beginnings to a position of importance”. Refers to a wise and capable official who came from a modest background. Literally, “Building rammed-earth walls and feeding cattle”.
版筑饭牛 Pronunciation and Pinyin
版筑饭牛 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 版筑饭牛
Origin and Story of 版筑饭牛
The idiom 'Ban Zhu Fan Niu' originates from two historical anecdotes. The first involves Fu Shuo from the Yin Dynasty.
After King Wuding ascended the throne, the kingdom faced successive years of famine. In a dream, King Wuding was inspired to find a wise man. He located Fu Shuo, who was diligently building rammed-earth walls in Fuyan. Recognizing his potential, King Wuding appointed Fu Shuo as his prime minister, and the Yin Dynasty subsequently flourished.
The second story features Ning Qi from the Spring and Autumn period. Duke Huan of Qi, while preparing to welcome an envoy from the Zhou King, encountered Ning Qi, who was feeding cattle outside the city gate. Impressed by Ning Qi's exceptional talent and insight, Duke Huan appointed him as his chief minister.
Both stories exemplify how individuals of humble origins can rise to prominence and serve their country due to their outstanding virtue and ability.
Idioms Related to 版筑饭牛
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Open the tool →Questions about 版筑饭牛
What does 版筑饭牛 mean?
版筑饭牛 (bǎn zhù fàn niú) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to rise from humble beginnings to a position of importance”.
How do you pronounce 版筑饭牛?
版筑饭牛 is pronounced bǎn zhù fàn niú in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 版筑饭牛 literally mean?
Literally, 版筑饭牛 means “Building rammed-earth walls and feeding cattle”. It is used to mean “to rise from humble beginnings to a position of importance”.
Where does 版筑饭牛 come from?
版筑饭牛 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 版筑饭牛?
版筑，造土墙；饭牛，喂牛。后以之为贤臣出身微贱之典。