垂帘听政

垂簾聽政

chuílián-tīngzhèng

idiom

Meanings

1 to rule from behind a screen on behalf of a child emperor
2 to pull the strings from behind the scenes

Characters

curtain; screen

to hear; to handle (affairs)

affairs of state

Examples

HSK 6

皇帝年纪太小，所以由太后垂帘听政。

Huángdì niánjì tài xiǎo, suǒyǐ yóu tàihòu chuílián-tīngzhèng.

The emperor was too young, so the empress dowager ruled from behind the screen.

HSK 7-9

老董事长虽然退休了，却还在幕后垂帘听政，大事都得他点头。

Lǎo dǒngshìzhǎng suīrán tuìxiū le, què hái zài mùhòu chuílián-tīngzhèng, dàshì dōu děi tā diǎntóu.

The old chairman has retired, but he still pulls the strings from behind the scenes: every big decision needs his nod.

Tips

history

At court audiences the empress dowager sat behind a screen (帘) while the young emperor sat on the throne in front of her. The 《旧唐书》 records Empress Wu (武则天) joining in every decision this way when Emperor Gaozong fell ill. The best-known case is 慈禧, who ruled from behind the screen for the Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors.

Stroke Order

垂 chuí

帘 lián

听 tīng

政 zhèng