鸟尽弓藏
niǎo jìn gōng cáng
to cast aside those who have served their purpose
Character by character
鸟niǎo
birds
birds
尽jìn
gone
gone
弓gōng
bow
bow
藏cáng
put away
put away
Example
公司一上市，老板就把当初一起创业的伙伴一个个赶走了，真是鸟尽弓藏。
As soon as the company was listed, the boss got rid of the partners who had founded it with him, one after another: once the birds are shot, the bow goes in the cupboard.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From the Shiji: 范蠡 warned that when the birds are gone the good bow is put away, and when the hare is dead the hunting dog is cooked. Often paired with 兔死狗烹; said of rulers like 朱元璋 who killed their old generals.
Learn this in Lesson 96 · HSK 6–7: 从乞丐到皇帝：明朝 (From beggar to emperor: the Ming)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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