爪牙

爪牙

1. (literally) claws and fangs of animals

   • 螾無爪牙之利，筋骨之强，上食埃土，下飲黃泉，用心一也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     螾无爪牙之利，筋骨之强，上食埃土，下饮黄泉，用心一也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

     Yǐn wú zhǎoyá zhī lì, jīngǔ zhī qiáng, shàng shí āitǔ, xià yǐn huángquán, yòngxīn yī yě. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 凡人之性，爪牙不足以自守衛，肌膚不足以扞寒暑，筋骨不足以從利辟害，勇敢不足以卻猛禁悍。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     凡人之性，爪牙不足以自守卫，肌肤不足以扞寒暑，筋骨不足以从利辟害，勇敢不足以却猛禁悍。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

     Fán rén zhī xìng, zhǎoyá bù zúyǐ zì shǒuwèi, jīfū bù zúyǐ hàn hánshǔ, jīngǔ bù zúyǐ cóng lì bì hài, yǒnggǎn bù zúyǐ què měng jìn hàn. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

2. (figurative, derogatory) lackey; underling; henchman
3. (figurative, literary) warrior

   • 祈父、予王之爪牙。胡轉予于恤、靡所止居。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     祈父、予王之爪牙。胡转予于恤、靡所止居。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Qí fù, yǔ wáng zhī zhǎoyá. Hú zhuǎn yǔ yú xù, mǐ suǒ zhǐjū. [Pinyin]

     Minister of war, we are the claws and teeth of the king. Why have you rolled us into this sorrow, so that we have no abiding place?

• (lackey):