树倒猢狲散 — “When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter”
树倒猢狲散 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “When an influential person or main support collapses, their followers and dependents quickly disperse; like rats deserting a falling house”. Literally, “When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter”.
树倒猢狲散 Pronunciation and Pinyin
树倒猢狲散 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 树倒猢狲散
Origin and Story of 树倒猢狲散
During the Southern Song Dynasty, treacherous official Qin Hui served as chancellor. Many opportunistic individuals attached themselves to him, abusing their power.
Qin Hui's relative, Cao Yong, gained official positions through flattery and was very pleased with himself.
However, Cao Yong's brother-in-law, Li Desi, refused to associate with their ways.
After Qin Hui's death, Cao Yong was demoted. Li Desi then wrote an essay titled 'Ode to When the Tree Falls and Monkeys Scatter' ("") and sent it to Cao Yong.
Idioms Related to 树倒猢狲散
More idioms starting with 树
- shù树shàng上kāi开huā花make something out of nothing
- shù树sú俗lì立huà化establish customs and moral education
- shù树dǎo倒gēn根cuī摧aging and frail
- shù树dǎo倒hú猢sūn孙sàn散When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter
- shù树yuán元lì立dí嫡establish the legitimate heir
- shù树gōng功yáng扬míng名establish achievements and gain fame
- shù树gōng功lì立yè业achieve great accomplishments and establish a career
- shù树tóng同bá拔yì异advocate uniformity, eliminate differences
- shù树dà大zhāo招fēng风Prominence invites trouble
- shù树dà大gēn根shēn深well-established and deeply rooted
- shù树dé德wù务zī滋Cultivate and spread virtue universally
- shù树yù欲xī息ér而fēng风bù不tíng停Circumstances are beyond one's control
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Open the tool →Questions about 树倒猢狲散
What does 树倒猢狲散 mean?
树倒猢狲散 (shù dǎo hú sūn sàn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “When an influential person or main support collapses, their followers and dependents quickly disperse; like rats deserting a falling house”.
How do you pronounce 树倒猢狲散?
树倒猢狲散 is pronounced shù dǎo hú sūn sàn in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 树倒猢狲散 literally mean?
Literally, 树倒猢狲散 means “When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter”. It is used to mean “When an influential person or main support collapses, their followers and dependents quickly disperse; like rats deserting a falling house”.
Where does 树倒猢狲散 come from?
树倒猢狲散 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 树倒猢狲散?
树倒了，树上的猴子就散去。比喻靠山一旦垮台，依附的人也就一哄而散。