割雞焉用牛刀
See also: 割鸡焉用牛刀
Chinese
to kill a chicken; to deal with a minor issue where; how to use an ox cleaver; a cleaver for butchering oxen trad. (割雞焉用牛刀) 割雞 焉 用 牛刀 simp. (割鸡焉用牛刀) 割鸡 焉 用 牛刀
Etymology
From the Analects:
- 子之武城,聞弦歌之聲,夫子莞爾而笑,曰:「割雞焉用牛刀。」子游對曰:「昔者,偃也聞諸夫子曰:『君子學道則愛人,小人學道則易使也。』」子曰:「二三子!偃之言是也,前言戲之耳!」 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
- From: The Analects of Confucius, circa 475 – 221 BCE, Wiktionary translation
- Zǐ zhī Wǔchéng, wén xiángē zhī shēng, Fūzǐ wǎn'ěr ér xiào, yuē: “Gējī yān yòng niúdāo.” Zǐyóu duì yuē: “Xīzhě, Yǎn yě wén zhū Fūzǐ yuē: ‘Jūnzǐ xuédào zé ài rén, xiǎorén xuédào zé yì shǐ yě.’” Zǐ yuē: “Èrsānzǐ! Yǎn zhī yán shì yě, qiányán xì zhī ěr!” [Pinyin]
- The master went to Wucheng.[1] When he heard the sound of ritual court music, the master smiled and said, "Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?"[2] Ziyou replied, "In that past, I have heard you say, 'If a ruler learns the way, then he will love the people. If a person of low station learns the way, then it will be easier for him to serve.'"[3] The master said, "Gentlemen! What Yan said is correct. As for my previous statement, I was only teasing him!"
子之武城,闻弦歌之声,夫子莞尔而笑,曰:“割鸡焉用牛刀。”子游对曰:“昔者,偃也闻诸夫子曰:‘君子学道则爱人,小人学道则易使也。’”子曰:“二三子!偃之言是也,前言戏之耳!” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Notes:
- Confucius was visiting his disciple Yan Yan, who was commandant of Wucheng at the time.
- Confucius was joking with his disciple, suggesting that ritual court music might be a bit over the top, when considering that Wucheng was such a lowly assignment.
- Yan Yan is suggesting that even though Wucheng is a small outpost, its civil servants should still be educated in proper court etiquette.
Pronunciation
Proverb
割雞焉用牛刀
- Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?
- 言未絕,呂布背後一人,高聲出曰:『割雞焉用牛刀?』不勞溫侯親往。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
- Yán wèi jué, lǚbù bèihòu yīrén, gāoshēng chū yuē: ‘Gējī yān yòng niúdāo?’ Bùláo wēnhóu qīnwǎng. [Pinyin]
- He had not yet finished speaking, when a person standing behind Lü Bu said loudly, "'Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?' We shouldn't trouble the Marquis of Wen to go personally.
言未绝,吕布背后一人,高声出曰:‘割鸡焉用牛刀?’不劳温侯亲往。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
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