分庭抗禮

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Chinese

to stand in different parts of the courtyard as a symbol of equality among the people
trad. (分庭抗禮) 分庭 抗禮
simp. (分庭抗礼) 分庭 抗礼

Etymology

From Zhuangzi, chapter 31 (《莊子·漁父》), where Zilu gives some comments after a conversation between Confucius and a fisherman.

萬乘千乘夫子未嘗分庭伉禮夫子倨敖漁父夫子曲要磬折太甚 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
万乘千乘夫子未尝分庭伉礼夫子倨敖渔父夫子曲要磬折太甚 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson
Wànshèng zhī zhǔ, qiānshèng zhī jūn, jiàn fūzǐ wèicháng bù fēntíng kànglǐ, fūzǐ yóu yǒu jù'ào zhī róng. Jīn yúfù zhàng ná nì lì, ér fūzǐ qūyāo qìngzhé, yán bài ér yìng, dé wú tàishèn hū?
The rulers of ten thousand chariots, the lords of a thousand chariots, when they receive you, invariably seat you on the same level as themselves and treat you with the etiquette due to an equal, and still you maintain a stiff and haughty air. But now this old fisherman, pole in hand, presents himself in front of you, and you double up at the waist, as bent as a chiming stone, and bow every time you reply to his words — this is going too far, isn’t it?

Pronunciation


Idiom

分庭抗禮

  1. to stand up (to someone) as an equal; to function as rivals