尔虞我诈

爾虞我詐

ěryú-wǒzhà

idiom #54,011

Meanings

1 mutual deception
2 each side tries to outwit the other
3 deceit and treachery

Characters

you (classical)

deceive / worry

cheat / swindle

Examples

HSK 6

商场上尔虞我诈，朋友也难免变对手。

Shāngchǎng shàng ěryú-wǒzhà, péngyou yě nánmiǎn biàn duìshǒu.

In business there's mutual deception; even friends inevitably become rivals.

HSK 6

他受够了公司里尔虞我诈的氛围，辞职了。

Tā shòugòu le gōngsī lǐ ěryú-wǒzhà de fēnwéi, cízhí le.

Fed up with the scheming atmosphere at the company, he resigned.

HSK 7-9

宫斗剧里全是尔虞我诈的情节。

Gōngdòujù lǐ quán shì ěryú-wǒzhà de qíngjié.

Palace-intrigue dramas are all scheming and backstabbing.

Tips

history

From 左传: 我无尔诈，尔无我虞 ("I will not deceive you, and you will not suspect me"), originally a peace pledge between Chu and Song, later flipped into its opposite meaning.

Stroke Order

尔 ěr

虞 yú

我 wǒ

诈 zhà