前倨后恭 — “To be arrogant at first and then become deferential”
前倨后恭 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be arrogant at first and then become deferential”. To change one's attitude from haughtiness to humility. Literally, “Formerly arrogant, later respectful”.
前倨后恭 Pronunciation and Pinyin
前倨后恭 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 前倨后恭
Origin and Story of 前倨后恭
Su Qin traveled across different states, presenting his political views to various rulers, but none appreciated him. Feeling dejected, Su Qin returned to his hometown, Luoyang, in old clothes and worn-out shoes. His family, seeing him in such a dilapidated state, gave him cold shoulders. His sister-in-law refused to cook for him and severely scolded him.
This incident greatly motivated Su Qin. After a year of diligent study and contemplation, Su Qin grasped the political landscape of his time.
During his subsequent travels, he successfully persuaded the six states of Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, and Wei to form a 'vertical alliance' against the Qin state. He was appointed 'Chief of the Vertical Alliance' and served as prime minister for these six states.
When Su Qin returned home in glory, his relatives completely changed their previous attitudes. They all bowed four times and knelt in apology, with his sister-in-law even crawling like a snake.
Faced with this scene, Su Qin asked his sister-in-law, 'Sister-in-law, why were you so arrogant before, and now so respectful?'
Idioms Related to 前倨后恭
Synonyms of 前倨后恭
More idioms starting with 前
- qián前bù不bā巴cūn村，，hòu后bù不bā巴diàn店nowhere to go for help
- qián前bù不bā巴cūn村，，hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded in the middle of nowhere
- qián前bù不zháo着cūn村，，hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded without support
- qián前bù不jiàn见gǔ古rén人，，hòu后bù不jiàn见lái来zhě者unprecedented and peerless, profoundly alone
- qián前shì事bù不wàng忘，，hòu后shì事zhī之shī师Learn from the past to guide the future
- qián前rén人shī失jiǎo脚，，hòu后rén人bǎ把huá滑learn from others' mistakes
- qián前rén人zāi栽shù树，，hòu后rén人chéng乘liáng凉Later generations benefit from earlier efforts
- qián前rén人zhǒng种dé德hòu后rén人shōu收Later generations benefit from ancestors' virtues
- qián前rén人zhòng种shù树，，hòu后rén人chéng乘liáng凉Later generations benefit from previous efforts
- qián前pū仆hòu后jì继fall and follow in a continuous effort
- qián前pū仆hòu后qǐ起one falls, another rises
- qián前pú仆hòu后bó踣fall one after another
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Open the tool →Questions about 前倨后恭
What does 前倨后恭 mean?
前倨后恭 (qián jù hòu gōng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be arrogant at first and then become deferential”.
How do you pronounce 前倨后恭?
前倨后恭 is pronounced qián jù hòu gōng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 前倨后恭 literally mean?
Literally, 前倨后恭 means “Formerly arrogant, later respectful”. It is used to mean “to be arrogant at first and then become deferential”.
Where does 前倨后恭 come from?
前倨后恭 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 前倨后恭?
倨：傲慢；恭：恭敬。以前傲慢，后来恭敬。形容对人的态度改变。