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落井下石. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
落井下石, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
落井下石 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
落井下石 you have here. The definition of the word
落井下石 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
落井下石, 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 fall; to drop (behind); leave behind
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warn; well
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under; next; lower under; next; lower; below; underneath; down(wards); to go down; latter |
rock; stone; 10 pecks
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| trad. (落井下石)
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落
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井
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下
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石
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| simp. #(落井下石)
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落
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井
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下
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石
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| Literally: “to throw stones at someone who fell down a well”.
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Etymology
From a famous epitaph written by Han Yu:
落陷阱不一引手救，反擠之，又下石焉者，皆是也。
落陷阱不一引手救，反挤之，又下石焉者，皆是也。 - From: c. 820, Han Yu (韓愈), Epitaph for Liu Tsu-hou《柳子厚墓誌銘》, translated by Yu-shih Chen
- Luò xiànjǐng bù yī yǐn shǒu jiù, fǎn jǐ zhī, yòu xià shí yān zhě, jiē shì yě.
- Should someone fall into a pit, they not only will not lift a hand to rescue him but will push him farther down and drop stones on him. This we see everywhere.
Note that the character 阱 (jǐng, “pitfall”) is replaced by the homonym 井 (jǐng, “well”).
Pronunciation
Idiom
落井下石
- to kick someone when they are down
Synonyms