牝雞司晨
Chinese
| hen | company; control | morning; dawn; daybreak | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (牝雞司晨/牝鷄司晨) | 牝雞/牝鷄 | 司 | 晨 | |
| simp. (牝鸡司晨) | 牝鸡 | 司 | 晨 | |
| Literally: “the hen crows at daybreak”. | ||||
Etymology
Based on an ancient saying quoted in the Book of Documents:
- 古人有言曰：『牝雞無晨。牝雞之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟婦言是用。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Book of Documents, circa 7th – 4th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Gǔrén yǒu yán yuē: ‘Pìnjī wú chén. Pìnjī zhī chén, wéi jiā zhī suǒ.’ Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu, wéi fùyán shì yòng. [Pinyin]
- The ancients have said, "The hen does not announce the morning. The crowing of a hen in the morning (indicates) the subversion of the family." Now Shou, the king of Shang, follows only the words of his wife.
古人有言曰：『牝鸡无晨。牝鸡之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟妇言是用。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Idiom
牝雞司晨
- (figurative, derogatory) a woman usurps authority, women meddle in politics, the female wears the trousers.
- Synonym: 婦奪夫權／妇夺夫权
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