割雞焉用牛刀

Chinese

to kill a chicken; to deal with a minor issue where; how to use an ox cleaver; a cleaver for butchering oxen
trad. (割雞焉用牛刀) 割雞 焉 用 牛刀
simp. (割鸡焉用牛刀) 割鸡 焉 用 牛刀

Etymology

From the Analects:

子之武城，聞弦歌之聲，夫子莞爾而笑，曰：「割雞焉用牛刀。」子游對曰：「昔者，偃也聞諸夫子曰：『君子學道則愛人，小人學道則易使也。』」子曰：「二三子！偃之言是也，前言戲之耳！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
子之武城，闻弦歌之声，夫子莞尔而笑，曰：“割鸡焉用牛刀。”子游对曰：“昔者，偃也闻诸夫子曰：‘君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使也。’”子曰：“二三子！偃之言是也，前言戏之耳！” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, circa 475 – 221 BCE, Wiktionary translation
Zǐ zhī Wǔchéng, wén xiángē zhī shēng, Fūzǐ wǎn'ěr ér xiào, yuē: “Gējī yān yòng niúdāo.” Zǐyóu duì yuē: “Xīzhě, Yǎn yě wén zhū Fūzǐ yuē: ‘Jūnzǐ xuédào zé ài rén, xiǎorén xuédào zé yì shǐ yě.’” Zǐ yuē: “Èrsānzǐ! Yǎn zhī yán shì yě, qiányán xì zhī ěr!” [Pinyin]
The master went to Wucheng.[1] When he heard the sound of ritual court music, the master smiled and said, "Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?"[2] Ziyou replied, "In that past, I have heard you say, 'If a ruler learns the way, then he will love the people. If a person of low station learns the way, then it will be easier for him to serve.'"[3] The master said, "Gentlemen! What Yan said is correct. As for my previous statement, I was only teasing him!"

Notes:

  1. ↑ Confucius was visiting his disciple Yan Yan, who was commandant of Wucheng at the time.
  2. ↑ Confucius was joking with his disciple, suggesting that ritual court music might be a bit over the top, when considering that Wucheng was such a lowly assignment.
  3. ↑ Yan Yan is suggesting that even though Wucheng is a small outpost, its civil servants should still be educated in proper court etiquette.

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): gējī yān yòng niúdāo
    (Zhuyin): ㄍㄜ ㄐㄧ ㄧㄢ ㄩㄥˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄠ

Proverb

割雞焉用牛刀

  1. Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?
    言未絕，呂布背後一人，高聲出曰：『割雞焉用牛刀？』不勞溫侯親往。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
    言未绝，吕布背后一人，高声出曰：‘割鸡焉用牛刀？’不劳温侯亲往。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
    From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
    Yán wèi jué, lǚbù bèihòu yīrén, gāoshēng chū yuē: ‘Gējī yān yòng niúdāo?’ Bùláo wēnhóu qīnwǎng. [Pinyin]
    He had not yet finished speaking, when a person standing behind Lü Bu said loudly, "'Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?' We shouldn't trouble the Marquis of Wen to go personally.

Synonyms

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