抉目吴门 — “To be unjustly persecuted or sacrificed”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 抉目吴门?

抉：剔出；目：眼睛。指忠臣被谗诛杀。

抉目吴门 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be unjustly persecuted or sacrificed”. Often by one's own ruler or superiors, typically after offering loyal but unheeded advice, and sometimes with a grim foresight of future doom for the oppressor. It signifies a loyal but unheeded warning leading to a tragic end. Literally, “Pluck out eyes at Wumen Gate”.

Frequency

抉目吴门 Pronunciation and Pinyin

抉目吴门 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
抉	jué	7	pick out and criticize
目	mù	5	eye, item, or goal
吴	wú	7	ancient state of Wu
门	mén	3	door, gate, entrance

Example Sentence with 抉目吴门

他为公司鞠躬尽瘁，却最终因小人进谗而被革职，临别时留下几句忠告，真是让人感叹世事如棋，抉目吴门

He dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the company, yet was eventually dismissed due to malicious slander; his parting words of advice left people sighing, a lamentable situation akin to "plucking out eyes at Wumen Gate."

Origin and Story of 抉目吴门

During the Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu (伍员), a high official of the State of Wu, advised King Fuchai of Wu to reject Yue's peace overtures.

However, King Fuchai, swayed by slanderous words, bestowed a precious sword upon Wu Zixu, ordering him to commit suicide.

Before his death, Wu Zixu declared, "Gouge out my eyes and place them on the East Gate of Wu's capital, so I may witness the State of Yue eventually annihilate Wu."

Not long after, the State of Wu was indeed conquered by Yue.