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不旋踵. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
不旋踵, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
不旋踵 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
不旋踵 you have here. The definition of the word
不旋踵 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
不旋踵, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Pronunciation
Adverb
不旋踵
- in a very short while
面頌盛德，則夷也；不旋踵而背語，則蹠也。
面颂盛德，则夷也；不旋踵而背语，则蹠也。 - From: c. late 16th century, Tu Long,《冥寥子游》(The Travels of Mingliaozi), rendered into English by Lin Yutang
- Miàn sòng shèngdé, zé Yí yě; bùxuánzhǒng ér bèi yǔ, zé Zhí yě.
- When we praise a person, we compare him to the saint Bo Yi, and as soon as he has turned away, we talk behind his back and compare him to the thief Zhi .
Usage notes
This word can have two opposite meanings, literally 不 (bù, “not”) + 旋踵 (xuánzhǒng), the latter happening to be synonymous. Thus on encountering the word we shall always infer the meaning from the context. Take the following sentence for example:
使夫王公大人而計出於此，則吾未見其不旋踵而敗也。
使夫王公大人而计出于此，则吾未见其不旋踵而败也。 - From: 1056, 蘇洵 (Su Xun),《權書》
- Shǐ fú wánggōng dàrén ér jì chūyú cǐ, zé wú wèijiàn qí bù xuánzhǒng ér bài yě.
- If those in power formulate their strategies from such a mindset, then I see no way they can avoid a defeat within the time it takes to turn their heels.
Here it should be comprehended as 未見其不 + 旋踵而敗, that is, a double negative.