淮王鸡狗 — “Prince Huainan's chickens and dogs”
淮王鸡狗 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to people who gain status or power simply by associating with an influential person, often implying that their rise is due to proximity rather than merit; hangers-on who benefit from another's success”. Literally, “Prince Huainan's chickens and dogs”.
淮王鸡狗 Pronunciation and Pinyin
淮王鸡狗 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 淮王鸡狗
Origin and Story of 淮王鸡狗
Liu An, a grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) and the Prince of Huainan, was a devout follower of Taoism. He longed for immortality and sought out the Eight Immortals, who instructed him on how to refine an elixir.
After diligently following their guidance, the elixir was finally complete. Liu An consumed it and immediately felt himself become light, ascending into the heavens.
The chickens and dogs in his courtyard, scrambling for the remaining elixir, also ate the leftover portions. Miraculously, they too began to float upwards, joining Liu An in becoming immortals.
Idioms Related to 淮王鸡狗
Synonyms of 淮王鸡狗
More idioms starting with 淮
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Open the tool →Questions about 淮王鸡狗
What does 淮王鸡狗 mean?
淮王鸡狗 (huái wáng jī gǒu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to people who gain status or power simply by associating with an influential person, often implying that their rise is due to proximity rather than merit; hangers-on who benefit from another's success”.
How do you pronounce 淮王鸡狗?
淮王鸡狗 is pronounced huái wáng jī gǒu in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 淮王鸡狗 literally mean?
Literally, 淮王鸡狗 means “Prince Huainan's chickens and dogs”. It is used to mean “refers to people who gain status or power simply by associating with an influential person, often implying that their rise is due to proximity rather than merit; hangers-on who benefit from another's success”.
Where does 淮王鸡狗 come from?
淮王鸡狗 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 淮王鸡狗?
比喻攀附别人而得势的人。