捋虎须

捋虎鬚

luōhǔxū

idiom

Meanings

1 to stroke a tiger's whiskers
2 to provoke someone powerful
3 to take a dangerous risk

Characters

stroke, smooth (with hand)

whiskers, beard

Examples

HSK 5

别捋虎须，老板正在火头上。

Bié luōhǔxū, lǎobǎn zhèngzài huǒ tóu shàng.

Don't poke the tiger - the boss is already fuming.

HSK 6

敢跟他顶嘴，简直是捋虎须。

Gǎn gēn tā dǐngzuǐ, jiǎnzhí shì luōhǔxū.

Talking back to him is basically stroking a tiger's whiskers.

HSK 7-9

这笔投资风险极大，无异于捋虎须。

Zhèbǐ tóuzī fēngxiǎn jídà, wúyìyú luōhǔxū.

The investment is enormously risky - no different from pulling the tiger's whiskers.

Tips

history

From 吴录 (via Pei Songzhi commentary on the 三国志): general Zhu Huan, dying, asked to stroke Sun Quan beard as a last wish, saying 'today I may truly say I have stroked the tiger's whiskers.' Sun Quan laughed. The phrase has since meant courting danger from the powerful.

Stroke Order

捋 lǚ

虎 hǔ

须 xū