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老馬識途. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
老馬識途, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
老馬識途 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
老馬識途 you have here. The definition of the word
老馬識途 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
老馬識途, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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old; aged; venerable old; aged; venerable; outdated; experienced; (affectionate prefix)
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horse; surname
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to record; write a footnote; to know to record; write a footnote; to know; knowledge
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way; route; road
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| trad. (老馬識途)
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老
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馬
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識
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途
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| simp. (老马识途)
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老
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马
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识
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途
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| Literally: “an old horse knows the way”.
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Etymology
From a story in Han Feizi, Chapter 22 (《韓非子·說林上》):
管仲、隰朋從於桓公而伐孤竹，春往冬反，迷惑失道，管仲曰：「老馬之智可用也。」乃放老馬而隨之，遂得道。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
管仲、隰朋从于桓公而伐孤竹，春往冬反，迷惑失道，管仲曰：「老马之智可用也。」乃放老马而随之，遂得道。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
- Guǎn Zhòng, Xí Péng cóng yú Huán gōng ér fá Gūzhú, chūn wǎng dōng fǎn, míhuò shī dào, Guǎn Zhòng yuē: “Lǎo mǎ zhī zhì kě yòng yě.” Nǎi fàng lǎo mǎ ér suí zhī, suì dé dào.
- Guan Zhong and Xi Peng (隰朋) accompanied Duke Huan in the expedition against Guzhu. When spring was gone and winter came again, they went astray and lost the way. Thereupon Guan Zhong said: "The wisdom of old horses is trustworthy." So they let old horses go of themselves and followed them from behind, till they found the way.
Pronunciation
Idiom
老馬識途
- an experienced worker knows what to do; an old hand knows the ropes
Descendants