危如累卵

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Chinese

danger; to endanger as (if); such as delicate balancing act
trad. (危如累卵) 危 如 累卵
simp. #(危如累卵) 危 如 累卵
Literally: “as precarious as a vertical pile of eggs”.

Etymology

From Han Feizi, Chapter 10 (《韓非子·十過》):

故曹小國也。而迫於晉、楚之間。其君之危猶累卵也。而以無禮蒞之。此所以絕世也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
故曹小国也。而迫于晋、楚之间。其君之危犹累卵也。而以无礼莅之。此所以绝世也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Gù Cáo xiǎoguó yě. Ér pò yú Jìn, Chǔ zhī jiān. Qí jūn zhī wēi yóu lěi luǎn yě. Ér yǐ wúlǐ lì zhī. Cǐ suǒyǐ juéshì yě.
Thus, Cao was a small state pressed between Jin and Chu. Its ruler was in constant danger as piled eggs are, but he accorded the Prince of Qin such a discourteous reception. This was the reason why his posterity was wiped out.

Pronunciation

Idiom

危如累卵

  1. extremely dangerous; extremely precarious

Synonyms

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia