豆萁燃豆 — “Refers to infighting or mutual harm among close kin”

豆萁燃豆 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to infighting or mutual harm among close kin”. Especially siblings, often driven by jealousy or conflict of interest. Literally, “Beanstalks burn beans”.

Frequency

豆萁燃豆 Pronunciation and Pinyin

豆萁燃豆 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
豆	dòu	7	bean, pea, pulse
萁	qí	11	bean stalks for fuel
燃	rán	16	ignite or burn intensely
豆	dòu	7	bean, pea, pulse

Example Sentence with 豆萁燃豆

他们兄弟俩为了争夺一点遗产，闹得豆萁燃豆，令人非常痛心。

The two brothers' bitter dispute over a small inheritance led to severe animosity, a regrettable instance of 'beanstalks burning beans' between close kin.

Origin and Story of 豆萁燃豆

During the Three Kingdoms period, Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, was deeply jealous of his younger brother Cao Zhi's literary talent. He sought a pretext to eliminate him and ordered Cao Zhi to compose a poem within seven paces, or face execution.

Cao Zhi, without hesitation, recited: "Beans are boiled to make soup, pressed to extract their juice. The beanstalks burn beneath the cauldron, while the beans in the pot weep. We are born of the same root, why are you so eager to torment each other?"

Deeply moved by the poem's allegorical plea, Cao Pi could not bring himself to kill his brother. Instead, he demoted Cao Zhi and sent him to guard the frontier.