司马懿

司馬懿

Sīmǎ Yì

proper noun

Meanings

1 Sima Yi (179-251), Wei strategist and founder of the ruling house of the Jin dynasty
2 courtesy name Zhongda (仲达)

Characters

to manage; compound surname element

horse; compound surname element

virtuous; excellent

Examples

HSK 3

司马懿是诸葛亮的主要对手。

Sīmǎ Yì shì Zhūgě Liàng de zhǔyào duìshǒu.

Sima Yi was Zhuge Liang's principal rival.

HSK 4

司马懿的孙子建立了晋朝。

Sīmǎ Yì de sūnzi jiànlì le Jìncháo.

Sima Yi's grandson founded the Jin dynasty.

Tips

history

Sima Yi served the Wei state under Cao Cao and his successors. Famous for outlasting Zhuge Liang at Wuzhang Plains by refusing to give battle, and for the 249 Gaoping Tombs coup that gave the Sima clan control of Wei, paving the way for his grandson Sima Yan to found Jin in 265.

culture

The 2017 drama 《军师联盟》 ('The Advisors Alliance') retold the Three Kingdoms from Sima Yi's perspective, reframing him from cunning antagonist to patient hero.

Stroke Order

司 sī

马 mǎ

懿 yì