To be extremely vindictive or unforgiving, seeking revenge for even the slightest offense or hostile look.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Story:
Fan Ju, a minister from the State of Wei, once accompanied Xu Jia, a high-ranking official, on a diplomatic mission to the State of Qi. Xu Jia suspected Fan Ju of secretly colluding with Qi and reported this to Wei Qi, the Prime Minister of Wei, upon their return. Fan Ju was unjustly beaten and severely injured.
He then changed his name to Zhang Lu and fled to the State of Qin, where he eventually became the powerful Prime Minister.
Years later, Xu Jia was sent as an envoy to Qin. Fan Ju, disguised as a poor and lowly person, went to meet him. Seeing Fan Ju in such a desolate state, Xu Jia took pity on him and gave him a tattered silk robe.
However, later, when Xu Jia discovered that the "poor man" he had met was actually Zhang Lu, the Prime Minister of Qin, he was terrified and repeatedly prostrated himself in apology. Fan Ju then stated that regarding Wei Qi, he would "睚眦必报" (seek revenge for even the slightest offense), implying that Xu Jia was spared only because of his earlier act of kindness.