作威作福

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Chinese

to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do
to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do; to make
 
power; might; prestige
to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do
to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do; to make
 
good fortune; happiness; luck
good fortune; happiness; luck; Fujian province (abbrev.); surname
 
trad. (作威作福)
simp. #(作威作福)
Literally: “to punish and award”.

Etymology

From 《尚書·洪範》.

[Traditional Chinese poetry, trad. and simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4th – 3rd century BCE
wéi pì zuò fú, wéi pì zuò wēi
Only the king awards. Only the king punishes.

Pronunciation


Verb

作威作福

  1. to openly abuse power; to tyrannize