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有恃無恐. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
有恃無恐, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
有恃無恐 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
有恃無恐 you have here. The definition of the word
有恃無恐 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
有恃無恐, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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to have; there is; there are to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be |
rely upon
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not have
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afraid; frightened; to fear
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| trad. (有恃無恐)
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有
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恃
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無
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恐
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| simp. (有恃无恐)
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有
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恃
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无
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恐
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Etymology
Paraphrase of a story from the Zuo Zhuan:
夏，齊孝公伐我北鄙…齊侯曰：「魯人恐乎？」對曰：「小人恐矣，君子則否。」齊侯曰：「室如縣罄，野無青草，何恃而不恐？」對曰：「恃先王之命。…恃此以不恐。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
夏，齐孝公伐我北鄙…齐侯曰：「鲁人恐乎？」对曰：「小人恐矣，君子则否。」齐侯曰：「室如县罄，野无青草，何恃而不恐？」对曰：「恃先王之命。…恃此以不恐。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE
- Xià, Qí Xiàogōng fá wǒ běi bǐ... Qíhóu yuē: “Lǔrén kǒng hū?” Duì yuē: “Xiǎorén kǒng yǐ, jūnzǐ zé fǒu.” Qíhóu yuē: “Shì rú xuán qìng, yě wú qīngcǎo, héshì ér bùkǒng?” Duì yuē: “Shì xiānwáng zhī mìng.... Shì cǐ yǐ bùkǒng.”
- In summer, Duke Xiao of Qi invaded our northern frontiers… "Are the people of Lu afraid?" asked the Duke of Qi. "The inferior are afraid indeed, but the superior ones are not," said Zhan Xi in reply. The Duke asks, "Your households suffer from such want like empty containers hang upside down, and not even green grass grow on your fields, let alone food. Whence your lack of fear?" "We rely on the indisputable and everlasting commandments of the Sovereign Forefather," said Xi. "… thus supported, we have nothing to fear."
Pronunciation
Idiom
有恃無恐
- to be emboldened in the knowledge that one has backing; to fear nothing with someone at one's back