郢書燕說

jing5 syu1 jin1 syut3

lit. Ying writes a letter and Yan reads it · fig. to misinterpret the original meaning · to pile up errors

2 Written Forms

Meanings

  1. lit. Ying writes a letter and Yan reads it
  2. fig. to misinterpret the original meaning
  3. to pile up errors
  4. refers to the letter from capital 郢[Ying3]{jing5} of 楚[Chu3]{co2} in which the inadvertent words "hold up the candle" are mistaken by the minister of 燕[Yan1] as "promote the wise"

Written Forms

郢書燕說Traditional · Main Form
郢书燕说Alternate Form

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