屠肠决肺 — “To suffer a gruesome”

屠肠决肺 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to suffer a gruesome”. Agonizing, and often self-inflicted death, characterized by extreme violence or self-mutilation. Literally, “To butcher intestines and gouge out lungs”.

Frequency

屠肠决肺 Pronunciation and Pinyin

屠肠决肺 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
屠	tú	12	slaughter, massacre, Tusu wine
肠	cháng	7	intestine, sausage, feelings
决	jué	6	decide, determine
肺	fèi	8	lungs

Example Sentence with 屠肠决肺

为了捍卫自己的尊严，他宁愿屠肠决肺，也绝不屈服于压迫。

To defend his dignity, he would rather face a gruesome and agonizing death than submit to oppression.

Origin and Story of 屠肠决肺

During the Warring States period, Yan Sui, a minister from the State of Han, bore a deep grudge against the Prime Minister, Han Kui. He traveled to the State of Qi to find Nie Zheng, a dog butcher, seeking his help to assassinate Han Kui.

Nie Zheng, a man of great filial piety, initially declined as he was caring for his elderly mother. After his mother's death, Nie Zheng, deeply moved by Yan Sui's kindness and recognition, decided to repay his patron.

Armed with only a sword, he bravely infiltrated Han Kui's heavily guarded mansion and successfully assassinated him.

To prevent his identity from being discovered and to protect Yan Sui, Nie Zheng then committed a gruesome act of self-mutilation: he disemboweled himself, gouged out his own lungs and other organs, and disfigured his face, dying by suicide.