Chinese Idiom: 负隅顽抗 (Fu Yu Wan Kang)
English Translation: Resisting tenaciously from a stronghold
pīn yīn: fù yú wán kàng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to stubbornly resisting or opposing something by relying on advantageous conditions or strongholds.
Historical Source: “Mencius” (《孟子 · 尽心下》)
Idiom Story:
In a year of famine in the State of Qi, many people died from hunger. Concerned for the plight of the people, Mengzi’s disciple Chen Zhen rushed to his teacher with a heavy heart, saying, “Master, have you heard? There is a famine in Qi, and people are dying of hunger. Everyone believes you will once again persuade King Qi to open the granaries in Tang to provide relief to the common people. I think we cannot do this anymore.”
Mengzi replied, “If I do this again, I will become like Feng Fu.”
Mengzi then recounted the story of Feng Fu. Feng Fu was a skilled hunter in the State of Jin, renowned for his ability to fight tigers. Eventually, he became a good person and stopped hunting, leading to his name being nearly forgotten.
One year, a ferocious tiger began to attack travelers in the mountains. Several young hunters banded together to hunt the tiger, driving it to a steep and dangerous corner of the mountain. The tiger, cornered and facing them, roared fiercely, causing the hunters to hesitate in fear. At that moment, Feng Fu happened to pass by in a carriage. The young hunters quickly approached him, asking for his help in dealing with the tiger.
Feng Fu dismounted, rolled up his sleeves, and engaged in a fierce battle with the tiger. After a hard struggle, he successfully killed the tiger, freeing the people from its threat. The young hunters were overjoyed and thanked him profusely.
The story’s phrase “虎负隅，莫之敢樱” (The tiger, cornered, could not be approached) inspired the idiom “负隅顽抗,” symbolizing those who stubbornly resist despite being in a precarious situation.
