吹篪乞食 — “Playing the 'chi' and begging for food”
吹篪乞食 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to beg for food by playing a musical instrument (specifically a 'chi', an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similar to a flute) in public places, typically on the streets; to busk for alms”. Literally, “Playing the 'chi' and begging for food”.
吹篪乞食 Pronunciation and Pinyin
吹篪乞食 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 吹篪乞食
Origin and Story of 吹篪乞食
During the Spring and Autumn period, Fei Wuji instigated King Ping of Chu to seize Prince Jian's newlywed bride. Fei Wuji then meticulously plotted to assassinate Prince Jian and his entire family, including his teacher Wu She. He dispatched his son, Fei Dexiong, to Fancheng to lure Wu Yuan (also known as Wu Zixu) back to the capital for execution.
Upon receiving news of this treacherous scheme, Wu Zixu fled from the State of Chu. He eventually arrived in the market streets of the State of Wu, where he survived by playing a 'xiao' (a vertical flute, a wind instrument similar to a 'chi') and begging for food.
Later, his talent and plight were discovered, and he was recommended to assist the King of Wu, eventually leading to Wu's attack on Chu.
Idioms Related to 吹篪乞食
More idioms starting with 吹
- chuī吹yè叶jiáo嚼ruǐ蕊play wind instruments and sing
- chuī吹chuī吹dǎ打dǎ打play wind and percussion instruments
- chuī吹chuī吹pāi拍pāi拍to flatter and fawn excessively
- chuī吹chún唇chàng唱hǒu吼to shout and yell boisterously
- chuī吹gòu垢suǒ索bān瘢nitpick and find fault
- chuī吹dà大fǎ法luó螺boast or brag excessively
- chuī吹tán弹dé得pò破skin so delicate it breaks with a touch
- chuī吹tán弹gē歌wǔ舞musical and dance entertainment
- chuī吹yǐng影lòu镂chén尘exceptionally delicate and intricate craftsmanship
- chuī吹máo毛lì利rèn刃razor-sharp blade
- chuī吹máo毛qǔ取xiá瑕to nitpick and find fault
- chuī吹máo毛shù数jié睫overly meticulous, missing the big picture
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Open the tool →Questions about 吹篪乞食
What does 吹篪乞食 mean?
吹篪乞食 (chuī chí qǐ shí) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to beg for food by playing a musical instrument (specifically a 'chi', an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similar to a flute) in public places, typically on the streets; to busk for alms”.
How do you pronounce 吹篪乞食?
吹篪乞食 is pronounced chuī chí qǐ shí in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 吹篪乞食 literally mean?
Literally, 吹篪乞食 means “Playing the 'chi' and begging for food”. It is used to mean “to beg for food by playing a musical instrument (specifically a 'chi', an ancient Chinese wind instrument, similar to a flute) in public places, typically on the streets; to busk for alms”.
Where does 吹篪乞食 come from?
吹篪乞食 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to modern Chinese. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 吹篪乞食?
吹着篪讨吃的。指在街头行乞。篪：古代的一种音乐，象笛子，有八孔。