祖逖

Zǔ Tì

proper noun

Meanings

1 Zu Ti (266-321)
2 Eastern Jin general known for northern expeditions to reclaim lost Central Plains

Characters

surname Zu; ancestor

Examples

HSK 7-9

祖逖年轻时与刘琨闻鸡起舞。

Zǔ Tì niánqīng shí yǔ Liú Kūn wén jī qǐwǔ.

In his youth Zu Ti and Liu Kun would rise to practice swordplay at the rooster's crow.

HSK 7-9

祖逖率军北伐，立誓收复中原。

Zǔ Tì shuài jūn běifá, lìshì shōufù Zhōngyuán.

Zu Ti led an army on a northern expedition, vowing to recover the Central Plains.

Tips

history

Origin of the chengyu 闻鸡起舞 ('hearing the rooster, rising to dance the sword') - from 《晋书·祖逖传》, describing Zu Ti and his friend Liu Kun drilling daily at dawn. Also the source of 中流击楫 ('striking the oar midstream'): on his northern expedition he struck the oar on the Yangtze vowing he would never recross alive without having retaken the north.

Stroke Order

祖 zǔ

逖 tì