黄雀在后

黃雀在後
huángquèzàihòu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 the oriole is right behind
  2. 2 a hidden threat lies in wait
  3. 3 someone is plotting against you from behind

Examples

Xiǎoxīn tánglángbǔchán, huángquèzàihòu.
Beware — the mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole is right behind.
Tā zhèng déyì, méi xiǎngdào huángquèzàihòu.
He was pleased with himself, never guessing that a hidden rival was waiting.

Tips

history
From ·》: pairs with 螳螂捕蝉. A mantis stalks the cicada; behind the mantis, a yellow finch () stalks in turn. An image Confucian advisors used to warn rulers against being swept up in the hunt and forgetting who might be hunting them.

Stroke Order

huáng
què
zài
hòu