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狡兔三窟. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
狡兔三窟, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
狡兔三窟 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
狡兔三窟 you have here. The definition of the word
狡兔三窟 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
狡兔三窟, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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crafty; cunning; sly
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rabbit
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three
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cave; hole
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| trad. (狡兔三窟)
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狡
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兔
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三
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窟
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| simp. #(狡兔三窟)
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狡
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兔
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三
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窟
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| Literally: “a crafty rabbit has three burrows”.
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Etymology
First attested in the Strategies of the Warring States, completed in the second century BC, as part of advice given by a retainer named Feng Xuan to his master Lord Mengchang (died 279 BC):
馮諼曰；「狡兔有三窟，僅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而臥也。請為君復鑿二窟。」
冯谖曰；「狡兔有三窟，仅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而卧也。请为君复凿二窟。」 - From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5th – 3rd centuries BCE
- Féng Xuān yuē; “jiǎo tù yǒu sān kū, jǐn dé miǎn qí sǐ ěr. Jīn jūn yǒu yī kū, wèi dé gāozhěn ér wò yě. Qǐng wèi jūn fù záo èr kū.”
- Feng Xuan said, "A crafty rabbit has three burrows, but even so it barely manages to escape death. As of now, my lord has one burrow. You cannot yet lie down on a pile of pillows and sleep. Please allow me to dig the two other burrows for you, my lord."
Pronunciation
Idiom
狡兔三窟
- (figurative) a crafty person has more than one hideout; a sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on