Chinese Idiom: 灭此朝食 (Mie Ci Zhao Shi)
English Translation: Annihilate This Before Breakfast
pīn yīn: miè cǐ zhāo shí
Idiom Meaning: This idiom expresses a determination to defeat or eliminate an opponent with urgency, suggesting that one is so focused on the task at hand that they will not even take a break for a meal until it is accomplished.
Historical Source: 《左传·成公二年》 (The Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Year 2 of Duke Cheng).
Idiom Story:
In 589 BC, during the Spring and Autumn period, a battle took place between the states of Qi and Jin in the territory of Qi (now part of Shandong Province, Jinan City). Duke Qi (齐顷公) of Qi believed his forces were superior to those of Jin and, overconfident, underestimated the enemy.
On the morning of the battle, Duke Qi’s subordinates invited him to breakfast, but he replied with determination, “余姑翦灭此而朝食!” (Let me annihilate these enemies before having breakfast!). This meant he would not eat until the enemy was defeated. Driven by this resolve, he hastily ordered his troops into battle without even donning his armor.
During the battle, the Jin forces were led by Bo Ke (部克). Despite suffering injuries—his blood flowing down to his shoes and his charioteer also wounded—he continued to lead the fight with unwavering resolve. The charioteer, with an arrow embedded in his arm, persisted in driving the chariot, dyed red with blood. Bo Ke emphasized the importance of maintaining the signal from their flag and drum, urging his troops to not let injuries compromise their mission.
Their fierce and determined leadership led to a decisive victory over the Qi forces, who were thoroughly defeated.
The story highlights the fierce determination and focus required to achieve victory, and from this tale, the idiom “灭此朝食” was coined to describe an urgent and resolute effort to overcome an obstacle before attending to other matters, such as eating.
