不共戴天

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Chinese

not; no
all together; in while; to share
all together; in while; to share; common; general; together; total
 
to put on; to respect; to bear
to put on; to respect; to bear; to support; wear (glasses, hat, gloves)
 
day; sky; heaven
simp. and trad.
(不共戴天)

Etymology

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):

共戴天兄弟交游 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
共戴天兄弟交游 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
Fù zhī chóu, gòng dài tiān. Xiōngdì zhī chóu bù fǎn bīng. Jiāoyóu zhī chóu bù tóng guó.
With the enemy who has slain his father, one should not live under the same heaven. With the enemy who has slain his brother, one should never have his sword to seek (to deal vengeance). With the enemy who has slain his intimate friend, one should not live in the same state (without seeking to slay him).

Pronunciation


Idiom

不共戴天

  1. to be absolutely irreconcilable

Derived terms