Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功
田父之功

田父之功 — “The old farmer's gain”

田父之功 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the advantage gained by a third party when two other parties are engaged in a fierce struggle; to benefit from others' disputes”. Literally, “The old farmer's gain”.

Frequency

田父之功 Pronunciation and Pinyin

田父之功 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
田
tián5cultivated field
父
fǔ4father, male elder
之
zhī4possessive or connective particle
功
gōng5merit achievement work skill

Example Sentence with 田父之功

两个竞争对手在价格战中两败俱伤,最终让新的市场进入者获得了田父之功
The two competitors were both severely hurt in the price war, ultimately allowing a new market entrant to gain the old farmer's advantage.

Origin and Story of 田父之功

During the Warring States period, the State of Qi was preparing to attack the State of Wei.

Chunyu Kun told King Xuan of Qi: "Han Zilu, the fastest dog in the world, chased Dongguo Jun, the most cunning rabbit in the world. They chased each other over mountain after mountain, until both were utterly exhausted and died.

An old farmer happened to pass by and picked up the nearly dead dog and rabbit.

Now, if Qi and Wei continue their standoff, other states will reap 'the old farmer's gain' (Tianfu Zhi Gong)."

Idioms Related to 田父之功

Synonyms of 田父之功

  • tián田fǔ父zhī之huò获An effortless gain from others' conflict

More idioms starting with 田

  • tián田fū夫yě野sǒu叟ordinary country folk
  • tián田fū夫yě野lǎo老country folk, farmers, and village elders
  • tián田yuè月sāng桑shí时busy farming and sericulture season
  • tián田fǔ父xiàn献pù曝Humbly offer a trivial gift or suggestion
  • tián田fǔ父yě野sǒu叟countryside farmers and village elders
  • tián田fǔ父yě野lǎo老rural folks, farmers, and elders
  • tián田jùn畯yě野lǎo老rural folks and common people
  • tián田lián连qiān仟bǎi佰Vast, contiguous fields stretching for great distances
  • tián田lián连qiān阡mò陌Vast, continuously stretching cultivated fields

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Questions about 田父之功

What does 田父之功 mean?

田父之功 (tián fǔ zhī gōng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the advantage gained by a third party when two other parties are engaged in a fierce struggle; to benefit from others' disputes”.

How do you pronounce 田父之功?

田父之功 is pronounced tián fǔ zhī gōng in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 田父之功 literally mean?

Literally, 田父之功 means “the old farmer's gain”. It is used to mean “the advantage gained by a third party when two other parties are engaged in a fierce struggle; to benefit from others' disputes”.

Where does 田父之功 come from?

田父之功 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 田父之功?

比喻两者相争,第三者得利。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us