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如臂使指. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
如臂使指, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
如臂使指 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
如臂使指 you have here. The definition of the word
如臂使指 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
如臂使指, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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as (if); such as
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arm
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to make; to cause; to enable to make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; messenger |
finger; to point; to direct finger; to point; to direct; to indicate |
| trad. (如臂使指)
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如
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臂
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使
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指
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| simp. #(如臂使指)
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如
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臂
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使
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指
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| Literally: “to be like the arms using the fingers”.
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Etymology
From Jia Yi's Discourse on Public Security:
令海內之勢如身之使臂，臂之使指，莫不制從，諸侯之君不敢有異心，輻湊並進而歸命天子。
令海内之势如身之使臂，臂之使指，莫不制从，诸侯之君不敢有异心，辐凑并进而归命天子。 - From: c. 174 BCE, 賈誼,《陳政事書》
- Lìng hǎinèi zhī shì rú shēn zhī shǐ bì, bì zhī shǐ zhǐ, mòbù zhìcóng, zhūhóu zhī jūn bùgǎn yǒu yìxīn, fúcòu bìng jìn ér guīmìng tiānzǐ.
- Thus the situation of the whole land will be as though the body handles the arms and the arms control the fingers with no one disobeying the command. The vassal kings would not even dare to think of rebellion, and all submit to the Son of Heaven like spokes to a wheel.
Alternatively, from Guanzi:
若此，則如胷之使臂，臂之使指也。
若此，则如胸之使臂，臂之使指也。 - From: Guanzi, 5th century BCE to 220 CE
- Ruò cǐ, zé rú xiōng zhī shǐ bì, bì zhī shǐ zhǐ yě.
- This being the case, these feudatories and fiefs can be controlled like a chest controlling the arms or arms handling fingers.
Pronunciation
Idiom
如臂使指
- to control or handle someone or something effectively and easily; to be in perfect command of