作壁上观 — “To stand by and watch without getting involved or offering help”
作壁上观 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to stand by and watch without getting involved or offering help”. To be an uninvolved spectator. Literally, “To watch from atop the rampart”.
作壁上观 Pronunciation and Pinyin
作壁上观 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 作壁上观
Origin and Story of 作壁上观
In the late Qin Dynasty, General Zhang Han led his troops to attack the State of Zhao. The Zhao army was utterly defeated and retreated to Julu to defend staunchly, awaiting reinforcements.
However, all the other anti-Qin forces remained motionless. Only Xiang Yu led his army to besiege the Qin forces.
Xiang Yu, with his immense strength, capable of lifting a cauldron, charged into the enemy formation, killed the Qin general Su Jiao, and soundly defeated the Qin army.
After the Battle of Julu, which annihilated the main Qin forces, those who had originally stood by and watched began to pledge their allegiance.
Idioms Related to 作壁上观
Synonyms of 作壁上观
Antonyms of 作壁上观
More idioms starting with 作
- zuò作bù不rú如chéng程fail to meet standards or complete on schedule
- zuò作luàn乱fàn犯shàng上rebel against superiors
- zuò作shì事bù不shí时to do things at the wrong time
- zuò作zuò作yǒu有máng芒radiant and dazzling
- zuò作zuò作shēng生máng芒radiating brilliant light
- zuò作zuò作suǒ索suǒ索rustling or scurrying sound
- zuò作gǔ古zhèng正jīng经to be extremely serious and proper
- zuò作shàn善jiàng降xiáng祥Good deeds bring good fortune
- zuò作kùn困shòu兽dòu斗fight like a cornered beast
- zuò作jiān奸fàn犯kē科commit crimes and violate laws
- zuò作jiān奸fàn犯zuì罪commit crimes and do evil
- zuò作hǎo好zuò作dǎi歹try every means to persuade
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Open the tool →Questions about 作壁上观
What does 作壁上观 mean?
作壁上观 (zuò bì shàng guān) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to stand by and watch without getting involved or offering help”.
How do you pronounce 作壁上观?
作壁上观 is pronounced zuò bì shàng guān in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 作壁上观 literally mean?
Literally, 作壁上观 means “to watch from atop the rampart”. It is used to mean “to stand by and watch without getting involved or offering help”.
Where does 作壁上观 come from?
作壁上观 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 作壁上观?
壁：壁垒。原指双方交战，自己站在壁垒上旁观。后多比喻站在一旁看着，不动手帮助。