吞炭漆身 — “To disfigure oneself”
吞炭漆身 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to disfigure oneself”. Often by extreme means like swallowing charcoal to alter one's voice and smearing lacquer on one's body to change one's appearance, as a desperate act to seek revenge or achieve a difficult, deeply held goal, signifying extreme determination and endurance of great humiliation. Literally, “Swallow charcoal and lacquer one's body”.
吞炭漆身 Pronunciation and Pinyin
吞炭漆身 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 吞炭漆身
Origin and Story of 吞炭漆身
During the late Spring and Autumn period, there was civil strife in the State of Jin. Zhao Xiangzi, a high official, killed Zhi Bo, another high official. Yu Rang, a loyal retainer of Zhi Bo, swore to avenge his master by killing Zhao Xiangzi.
He first infiltrated Zhao Xiangzi's residence but failed in his assassination attempt. Zhao Xiangzi, admiring his loyalty, released him.
For his second attempt, Yu Rang took extreme measures: he smeared his entire body with lacquer, making himself look like a leper, and swallowed burning charcoal to make his voice hoarse and unrecognizable. He again tried to assassinate Zhao Xiangzi but failed, and then committed suicide.
Idioms Related to 吞炭漆身
Synonyms of 吞炭漆身
More idioms starting with 吞
- tūn吞yún云tǔ吐wù雾to smoke heavily
- tūn吞dāo刀guā刮cháng肠Determined to turn over a new leaf
- tūn吞dāo刀tǔ吐huǒ火perform magic tricks or acrobatics
- tūn吞tūn吞tǔ吐tǔ吐hem and haw
- tūn吞shēng声rěn忍qì气swallow resentment and endure silently
- tūn吞shēng声rěn忍qì泣stifle sobs and weep silently
- tūn吞shēng声rěn忍lèi泪swallow grief and hold back tears
- tūn吞shēng声yǐn饮hèn恨swallow grief and nurse resentment
- tūn吞shēng声yǐn饮qì气swallow anger and endure silently
- tūn吞shēng声yǐn饮qì泣weep in silence
- tūn吞shēng声yǐn饮lèi泪to suppress grief and tears silently
- tūn吞fú符xī翕jǐng景Taoist practice of consuming talismans and absorbing essence
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Open the tool →Questions about 吞炭漆身
What does 吞炭漆身 mean?
吞炭漆身 (tūn tàn qī shēn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to disfigure oneself”.
How do you pronounce 吞炭漆身?
吞炭漆身 is pronounced tūn tàn qī shēn in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 吞炭漆身 literally mean?
Literally, 吞炭漆身 means “Swallow charcoal and lacquer one's body”. It is used to mean “to disfigure oneself”.
Where does 吞炭漆身 come from?
吞炭漆身 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 吞炭漆身?
以之为忍辱含垢，矢志复仇的典实。