毛遂堕井 — “Used to refer to a false rumor or report”
毛遂堕井 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “used to refer to a false rumor or report”. Especially one caused by mistaken identity (e.g., confusing a person with another of the same name). Literally, “Mao Sui fell into a well”.
毛遂堕井 Pronunciation and Pinyin
毛遂堕井 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 毛遂堕井
Origin and Story of 毛遂堕井
During the Warring States period, Mao Sui, a retainer under Lord Pingyuan of Zhao, volunteered to resolve a difficulty for Zhao and was highly esteemed by Lord Pingyuan.
One day, a commoner also named Mao Sui fell into a well and died.
A retainer, upon hearing this, immediately reported it to Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan, overcome with grief, exclaimed, "Alas! Heaven has forsaken me!"
He then ordered a search for Mao Sui's body, only to confirm that it was merely a person with the same name.
Idioms Related to 毛遂堕井
More idioms starting with 毛
- máo毛jǔ举xì细shì事enumerate trivial matters to find fault
- máo毛jǔ举xì细wù务enumerate trivial details
- máo毛jǔ举xì细gù故nitpick minor faults
- máo毛jǔ举lǚ缕xī析enumerate and analyze meticulously
- máo毛fā发bù不shuǎng爽perfectly accurate
- máo毛fà发sī丝sù粟Extremely tiny and insignificant things
- máo毛fà发zhī之gōng功a very small contribution
- máo毛fà发dǎo倒shù竖hair stands on end from anger or fear
- máo毛fà发jǐn尽shù竖hair stands on end
- máo毛fà发sǒng悚rán然hair standing on end from terror
- máo毛fà发sǒng悚lì立hair standing on end from terror
- máo毛fà发sēn森shù竖hair bristling with fear or rage
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Open the tool →Questions about 毛遂堕井
What does 毛遂堕井 mean?
毛遂堕井 (máo suí duò jǐng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “used to refer to a false rumor or report”.
How do you pronounce 毛遂堕井?
毛遂堕井 is pronounced máo suí duò jǐng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 毛遂堕井 literally mean?
Literally, 毛遂堕井 means “Mao Sui fell into a well”. It is used to mean “used to refer to a false rumor or report”.
Where does 毛遂堕井 come from?
毛遂堕井 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 毛遂堕井?
用为传闻不实之典。