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指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗
指鸡骂狗

指鸡骂狗 — “To make an indirect accusation or criticism”

指鸡骂狗 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an indirect accusation or criticism”. Ostensibly scolding one person but actually targeting another. Literally, “Point at the chicken, scold the dog”.

Frequency

指鸡骂狗 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 指zhǐ
  • 鸡jī
  • 骂mà
  • 狗gǒu

指鸡骂狗 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
指
zhǐ9point, indicate, or refer
鸡
jī7chicken
骂
mà9scold or insult
狗
gǒu8dog

Example Sentence with 指鸡骂狗

小明明知道老板在批评他的拖延习惯,却假装在说其他同事,这简直是指鸡骂狗。
Xiao Ming knew the boss was criticizing his procrastination habits, but pretended to be talking about other colleagues, which was a clear case of pointing at the chicken and scolding the dog.

Idioms Related to 指鸡骂狗

Synonyms of 指鸡骂狗

  • zhǐ指sāng桑mà骂huái槐criticize indirectly
  • zhǐ指zhū猪mà骂gǒu狗criticize someone indirectly

More idioms starting with 指

  • zhǐ指yī一shuō说shí十exaggerate a minor issue
  • zhǐ指bù不shèng胜lǚ偻too many to count
  • zhǐ指bù不shèng胜qū屈too many to count
  • zhǐ指bù不shèng胜shù数too numerous to count
  • zhǐ指dōng东huà划xī西talk evasively or beat around the bush
  • zhǐ指dōng东dǎ打xī西feint east, attack west
  • zhǐ指dōng东huà画xī西Beat around the bush
  • zhǐ指dōng东huà话xī西talk aimlessly or evasively
  • zhǐ指dōng东shuō说xī西Beat around the bush
  • zhǐ指dōng东mà骂xī西criticize indirectly
  • zhǐ指shì事lèi类qíng情explain principles and illustrate situations
  • zhǐ指qīn亲tuō托gù故claim kinship or feign acquaintance

Questions about 指鸡骂狗

What does 指鸡骂狗 mean?
指鸡骂狗 (zhǐ jī mà gǒu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an indirect accusation or criticism”.
How do you pronounce 指鸡骂狗?
指鸡骂狗 is pronounced zhǐ jī mà gǒu in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 指鸡骂狗 literally mean?
Literally, 指鸡骂狗 means “Point at the chicken, scold the dog”. It is used to mean “to make an indirect accusation or criticism”.
What is the Chinese definition of 指鸡骂狗?
指着鸡骂狗。比喻表面上骂这个人,实际上是骂那个人。
Copy the pinyin for 指鸡骂狗 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

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