虎皮

hǔpí

noun #35,980

Measure Word

一张虎皮 zhāng

Meanings

1 tiger skin / tiger hide
2 tiger-skin pattern
3 (figuratively) a borrowed authority used to intimidate

Characters

Examples

古代将军用虎皮做战袍。

Gǔdài jiāngjūn yòng hǔpí zuò zhànpáo.

Ancient generals made battle robes from tiger skin.

他不过是拉大旗作虎皮罢了。

Tā búguò shì lā dàqí zuò hǔpí bà le.

He's just using a big banner as a tiger skin (i.e. invoking authority to intimidate).

虎皮蛋糕是一种很有名的小吃。

Hǔpí dàngāo shì yì zhǒng hěn yǒumíng de xiǎochī.

'Tiger-skin cake' is a very famous snack.

Tips

usage

Three live senses: (1) literal tiger pelt; (2) the spotted/striped pattern that resembles it — 虎皮蛋糕 'tiger-skin cake,' 虎皮青椒 'tiger-skin green peppers' (a Sichuan dish where peppers are pan-blistered to look striped); (3) the figurative 'borrowed prestige' from the chengyu 拉大旗作虎皮 ('hoist a big banner as tiger skin'), used by Lu Xun to mock people who use grand slogans as cover for petty motives.

Stroke Order

虎 hǔ

皮 pí