Xiang Yu’s idioms and allusions: breaking the cauldron and sinking the boat, watching from the wall, surrounded by enemies, walking at night with embroidered clothes, wearing a crown while wearing a monkey, etc.

1. Breaking cauldrons and sinking boats

Original text Xiang Yu led his troops across the river, but all the boats sank, broke cauldrons, burned huts, and held three days of rations to show that the soldiers would die and no one would return the favor.

Translation Xiang Yu led all the troops across the Zhang River, scuttled all the ships, smashed all the pots and bowls, burned all the military tents, and took only three days of dry food with him as a sign of gratitude to the soldiers. We must fight to the death and never give up. It is a metaphor for leaving no escape route and being decisive in doing things.

2. Watch from the wall

In the original text, when Chu attacked Qin, all the generals watched from the wall.

Translation When the Chu army attacked the Qin army, the generals were watching from the barrier. Refers to waiting for success or failure without helping.

3. Besieged on all sides

Original text Hearing at night that the Han army was besieged on all sides, King Xiang was shocked and said: "Is the Han already in good shape? How many people are there in Chu!"

Translation Late at night, the Han army was singing songs about the Chu land on all sides. King Xiang was shocked when he heard it and said, "Has the Han completely conquered the Chu land? Why are there so many people in Chu?" It is a metaphor for being surrounded by enemies, being isolated and helpless, and falling into a desperate situation.

4. Walking at night with embroidered clothes

Original text King Xiang saw that all the palaces of Qin were burnt and dilapidated, and he longed to return eastward. He said: "Wealth and honor will not return to the hometown, just like walking at night with embroidered clothes. Who knows!"

Translation King Xiang saw the Qin Dynasty palace that was burned to the ground and missed his hometown again, so he said: "If you don't return to your hometown if you are rich and noble, it will be like wearing beautiful clothes. Walking in the dark, who knows?" It often describes having a prominent position but not being known to anyone. Also known as "night walk in brocade clothes".

5. Bathing monkeys and wearing crowns

The original speaker said: "People say that Chu people bathed in monkeys and crowned their ears, and it is true." King Xiang heard this and cooked the speaker.

The person who advised King Xiang said: "People say that the people of Chu are like macaques wearing hats. It is true." When King Xiang heard this, he threw the man into the pot and boiled him to death. . Metaphor pretends to be a character on the surface, but actually does not look like one.