蟊賊

蟊賊

1. (Classical, literally) grain-eating insect

   • 去其螟螣，及其蟊賊，無害我田穉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     去其螟螣，及其蟊贼，无害我田穉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Qù qí míngtè, jí qí máozéi, wú hài wǒ tiántí.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

2. (figuratively) person harmful to the country and the people

   • 天降罪罟，蟊賊內訌。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     天降罪罟，蟊贼内讧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Tiān jiàng zuìgǔ, máozéi nèihòng.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 吾主漢朝皇叔，反不能占據州郡；其他皆漢之蟊賊，卻都恃強侵占地土：惟智者不平焉。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     吾主汉朝皇叔，反不能占据州郡；其他皆汉之蟊贼，却都恃强侵占地土：惟智者不平焉。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Wú zhǔ Hàncháo huángshū, fǎn bùnéng zhànjù zhōujùn; qítā jiē Hàn zhī máozéi, què dōu shìqiáng qīnzhàn dìtǔ: wéi zhìzhě bùpíng yān.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 上天會不會嘉許我替世上剪除這一個戕害天性的蟊賊，不讓他繼續為非作惡？ [MSC, trad.]
     上天会不会嘉许我替世上剪除这一个戕害天性的蟊贼，不让他继续为非作恶？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1943, Zhu Shenghao, 《漢姆萊脫》 (translation of Hamlet)

     Shàngtiān huì bùhuì jiāxǔ wǒ tì shìshàng jiǎnchú zhè yīge qiānghài tiānxìng de máozéi, bù ràng tā jìxù wéifēizuò'è?

     And is't not to be damn'd to let this canker of our nature come in further euill?