血流漂杵 — “Describes a scene of immense bloodshed”
血流漂杵 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes a scene of immense bloodshed”. Where so much blood is shed that it could float wooden pestles (traditionally used for pounding grain), indicating a great slaughter or extreme carnage. Literally, “Blood flows to float pestles”.
血流漂杵 Pronunciation and Pinyin
血流漂杵 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 血流漂杵
Origin and Story of 血流漂杵
The idiom 'Blood flows to float pestles' originates from 'Shangshu·Wucheng' (The Book of Documents: The Accomplishments of King Wu), which recounts the fierce battle at Muye near Chaoge during King Wu of Zhou's campaign against the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang. The text exaggeratedly described the carnage, claiming that so much blood was shed that it could float wooden pestles used for pounding grain.
However, the philosopher Mencius later challenged this account, arguing it was an overstatement. He contended that King Wu's army was an army of righteousness, and therefore would not have engaged in indiscriminate slaughter. Furthermore, given King Zhou's cruelty, his own soldiers would likely have defected rather than fought fiercely, making such extreme bloodshed improbable.
Idioms Related to 血流漂杵
Antonyms of 血流漂杵
More idioms starting with 血
- xuè血zhài债lěi累lěi累stained with numerous bloody deeds
- xuè血zhài债yào要yòng用xuè血lái来huán还blood debt must be repaid with blood
- xuè血guāng光zhī之zāi灾bloodshed or violent disaster
- xuè血huà化wèi为bì碧blood shed for a righteous cause
- xuè血kǒu口pēn喷rén人maliciously slander with vicious words
- xuè血xìng性nán男ér儿a man of courage and integrity
- xuè血zhàn战dào到dǐ底fight to the bitter end
- xuè血rǎn染shā沙chǎng场Die bravely on the battlefield
- xuè血qì气zhī之yǒng勇impetuous courage
- xuè血qì气fāng方gāng刚full of youthful vigor
- xuè血qì气fāng方zhuàng壮full of youthful vigor
- xuè血qì气fāng方shèng盛full of youthful vigor
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Open the tool →Questions about 血流漂杵
What does 血流漂杵 mean?
血流漂杵 (xuè liú piāo chǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes a scene of immense bloodshed”.
How do you pronounce 血流漂杵?
血流漂杵 is pronounced xuè liú piāo chǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 血流漂杵 literally mean?
Literally, 血流漂杵 means “Blood flows to float pestles”. It is used to mean “describes a scene of immense bloodshed”.
Where does 血流漂杵 come from?
血流漂杵 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 血流漂杵?
杵：捣物的棒槌。血流成河，舂米的木棰都漂了起来。形容战死的人很多。也泛指流血很多。