







北门锁钥 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a strategically vital location”. Especially one that acts as a key defensive point in the northern region, essential for control or access. Literally, “Lock and key of the north gate”.
During the Spring and Autumn period, Qi Zi, a man from Qin, held the key to the northern gate of Zheng's capital. He sent a messenger to Duke Mu of Qin, urging him to attack Zheng.
Disregarding the advice of Jian Shu, Duke Mu of Qin dispatched generals Meng Mingshi and others to lead an expedition.
Xian Gao, a merchant from Zheng, discovered this. He feigned offering gifts to welcome the Qin army, while secretly sending intelligence.
The State of Jin seized the opportunity to dispatch troops and defeat the Qin army.
Duke Mu of Qin later admitted it was his fault.

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Open the tool →北门锁钥 (běi mén suǒ yuè) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a strategically vital location”.
北门锁钥 is pronounced běi mén suǒ yuè in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 北门锁钥 means “Lock and key of the north gate”. It is used to mean “a strategically vital location”.
北门锁钥 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
原指北城门上的锁和钥匙。后借指北方的军事要地。