辙乱旗靡 — “Chariot tracks in disarray and banners drooping”

辙乱旗靡 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Chariot tracks in disarray and banners drooping”. Signifying an army in utter defeat and headlong flight. Literally, “disordered chariot ruts and drooping flags”.

Frequency

辙乱旗靡 Pronunciation and Pinyin

辙乱旗靡 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
辙	zhé	16	wheel track or repeated mistake
乱	luàn	7	disorderly and confused
旗	qí	14	flag, banner, or standard
靡	mí	19	wasteful, extravagant, luxurious

Example Sentence with 辙乱旗靡

在强大的攻势下，对手很快就辙乱旗靡，向后方溃逃。

Under the powerful offensive, the opposing forces soon had their chariot tracks in disarray and banners drooping, scattering in retreat.

Origin and Story of 辙乱旗靡

During the Spring and Autumn period, the powerful State of Qi, relying on its strength, launched an attack on the weaker State of Lu. Duke Zhuang of Lu led his army to meet the invaders.

When the two armies faced each other, the Qi army began beating their war drums. However, the Lu army, under the strategic guidance of Cao Gui, did not beat their drums immediately.

Duke Zhuang waited until Qi had beaten their drums three times before ordering his soldiers to strike their own drums. When he observed that the enemy's forces were in a state of 'chariot tracks in disarray and banners drooping', he commanded the Lu army to charge bravely, thus securing a decisive victory in the battle.