an ice mountain is hardly reliable(bīng shān nán kào)

an ice mountain is hardly reliable

The Chinese idiom, Pinyin is B ī ngsh ā NN á NK à o, which means that it is difficult to rely on power that cannot last long. It comes from Sima Guang's Zi Zhi Tong Jian, the 11th year of Tianbao, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty.

Analysis of Idioms

[synonym]: the iceberg is easy to fall down and [antonym]: Mount Tai can be relied on

The origin of Idioms

Sima Guang's Zi Zhi Tong Jian, the 11th year of Tianbao, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, said: "you are like Mount Tai, I think you are an iceberg! If the sun comes out, will you have nothing to lose? "

Idiom usage

To rely on his power is to rely on the iceberg.

Idiom story

Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, loved Yang Guifei very much. Yang Zhao (Yang Guozhong), the elder brother of Yang Yuhuan, was appointed prime minister. Many officials gave gifts to Yang Guozhong and took refuge in him. Zhang Yu, a Jinshi from Shaanxi Province, was persuaded to take refuge with Yang Guozhong. Zhang Yu said, "Yang Guozhong is just an iceberg, which will melt one day." I went to live in seclusion in Songshan.

Chinese PinYin : bīng shān nán kào