抱蔓摘瓜 — “Hold the vine and pluck the melon”
抱蔓摘瓜 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to overextend an investigation or inquiry, often implicating innocent people; to broaden a situation or problem beyond its original scope, causing collateral damage or unintended negative consequences”. Literally, “Hold the vine and pluck the melon”.
抱蔓摘瓜 Pronunciation and Pinyin
抱蔓摘瓜 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 抱蔓摘瓜
Origin and Story of 抱蔓摘瓜
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Empress Wu Zetian effectively managed the court affairs. She harbored great ambition and employed extremely ruthless methods.
She deposed Crown Prince Li Zhong and later established Li Hong as the Crown Prince, only to poison him afterward, installing Li Xian as the new Crown Prince.
Li Xian, deeply worried about his own fate, composed the "Yellow Platform Melon Song" day and night. The poem reads: "Melons grow on the yellow platform, with many seeds when ripe. Plucking one makes the melon better, plucking again makes it scarce, plucking a third time might still be fine, but plucking them all leaves only the vine."
This poem expressed his anxiety that his mother, Wu Zetian, would eliminate all her sons, leaving no one to inherit, thus eradicating the family line completely.
The phrase "抱蔓摘瓜" (taking the vine and plucking the melon) originates from the line "摘绝抱蔓归" (pluck them all, returning with the vine), symbolizing complete eradication.
Idioms Related to 抱蔓摘瓜
Synonyms of 抱蔓摘瓜
More idioms starting with 抱
- bào抱bù不píng平to stand up against injustice
- bào抱lìng令shǒu守lǜ律rigidly adhere to rules
- bào抱fó佛jiǎo脚make a hasty last-minute effort
- bào抱guān关jī击tuò柝hold a humble, lowly position
- bào抱guān关zhí执yuè籥Hold a humble gatekeeper position
- bào抱guān关zhí执yuè钥serve as a gatekeeper
- bào抱bīng冰gōng公shì事arduous unrewarding public service
- bào抱tóu头dà大kū哭weep bitterly and uncontrollably
- bào抱tóu头tòng痛kū哭weep bitterly in each other's arms
- bào抱tóu头suō缩xiàng项cower in fear
- bào抱tóu头shǔ鼠cuàn窜flee in a panic
- bào抱zǐ子nòng弄sūn孙enjoying old age with children and grandchildren
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Open the tool →Questions about 抱蔓摘瓜
What does 抱蔓摘瓜 mean?
抱蔓摘瓜 (bào wàn zhāi guā) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to overextend an investigation or inquiry, often implicating innocent people; to broaden a situation or problem beyond its original scope, causing collateral damage or unintended negative consequences”.
How do you pronounce 抱蔓摘瓜?
抱蔓摘瓜 is pronounced bào wàn zhāi guā in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 抱蔓摘瓜 literally mean?
Literally, 抱蔓摘瓜 means “Hold the vine and pluck the melon”. It is used to mean “to overextend an investigation or inquiry, often implicating innocent people; to broaden a situation or problem beyond its original scope, causing collateral damage or unintended negative consequences”.
Where does 抱蔓摘瓜 come from?
抱蔓摘瓜 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 抱蔓摘瓜?
顺藤摸瓜。比喻扩大案情，牵连无罪的人。