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社鼠城狐

Mandarin · pinyin shè shǔ chéng hú

lit. rat in a country shrine, fox on town walls; fig. unprincipled thugs who abuse others' power to bully and exploit people

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Characters in this entry

社: shè · god of the soil and altars to him; group of families; company, society
鼠: shǔ · rat, mouse; Kangxi radical 208
城: chéng · castle; city, town; municipality
狐: hú · fox

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Mandarin tones

4–3–2–2 · she4 shu3 cheng2 hu2

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