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指雞罵狗

简指鸡骂狗 · 繁指雞罵狗

Mandarin · pinyin zhǐ jī mà gǒu

lit. to point at the chicken while scolding the dog (idiom)
fig. to make indirect criticisms

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Characters in this entry

指: zhǐ · finger, toe; point, indicate
雞: jī · chickens; domestic fowl
罵: Look up this written character
狗: gǒu · dog, Canis familiaris
鸡: jī · chicken
骂: mà · accuse, blame, curse, scold

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–1–4–3 · zhi3 ji1 ma4 gou3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

指雞罵狗 · find source passages ↗ · 指鸡骂狗 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zi2 gai1 maa6 gau2

Cantonese word readings for 指雞罵狗. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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