Chinese idiom – 狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Here is a translation of the story of “Hú Jiǎ Hǔ Wēi” (狐假虎威) into English:
Once upon a time, a fox was walking through the forest and came across a tiger. The tiger, known for its ferocity and strength, saw the fox and immediately decided to eat it for dinner.
The fox, however, was cunning and quick-witted. Facing the tiger’s threat, the fox did not panic. Instead, it came up with a plan. It turned to the tiger and said, “You dare not eat me, for I am sent by the Heavenly Emperor. He has made me the king of all animals, and if you dare to harm me, you will face dire consequences.”
The tiger, not knowing the truth, was taken aback by the fox’s bold claim. It hesitated, not sure if the fox was telling the truth. The fox, seeing the tiger’s uncertainty, quickly took advantage of the situation. It led the tiger through the forest, walking in front as if it were indeed the king of all animals.
As they walked, the other animals in the forest saw the fox leading the tiger and were terrified. They fled in all directions, thinking that the fox must be a powerful creature indeed. The tiger, seeing this, was convinced that the fox was indeed sent by the Heavenly Emperor and dared not harm it.
Thus, the fox escaped from the tiger’s clutches through its cunning and quick thinking. This story teaches us that sometimes, using our wits and appearing more powerful than we actually are can help us escape difficult situations. However, it is important to remember that true strength comes from within and should not be relied on deception or illusion.
