Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
View all tools →
下马威
下马威
下马威
下马威
下马威
下马威
下马威
下马威

xià下mǎ马wēi威

An initial display of authority or power to intimidate or warn others, especially upon taking a new position or encountering a new situation.

新来的经理一上任就给了那些懒散的员工一个下马威,要求大家严格遵守工作纪律。
The new manager immediately asserted his authority over the slacking employees, demanding strict adherence to work discipline.

Era:

Ancient

Frequency:

Synonym:

下车作威、下马作威

Story:

During the Western Han Dynasty, Ban Bo, a young nobleman from a powerful family, voluntarily offered to serve as the Prefect of Dingxiang, a region fraught with disorder.

As soon as he arrived, the local gentry and influential families concealed all former offenders.

However, upon taking office, Ban Bo extensively hosted banquets for these gentry and influential families, befriending them.

After discerning the hiding places of the offenders, he immediately ordered their capture and execution.

Dingxiang soon achieved stability.

Next Idiom

© 2026 hanzi.now

ToolsGuidesContact Us