虎の威を借る狐

Japanese

Kanji in this term
虎 威 借 狐
とら
Grade: S 		い
Grade: S 		か
Grade: 4 		きつね
Hyōgai

Etymology

Literally, "the fox who borrows the might of a tiger." Partial calque of Literary Chinese 狐藉虎威 (hújièhǔwēi, literally “a fox borrows the might of a tiger”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [to̞ɾa̠ no̞ i o̞ ka̠ɾɯ̟ kʲit͡sɨne̞]

Noun

虎(とら)の威(い)を借(か)る狐(きつね) • (tora no i o karu kitsune) 

  1. donkey in a lion's skin; one who borrows the authority of someone else and acts arrogant
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