catch up from behind(hòu lái jū shàng)

catch up from behind

As a Chinese idiom, Pinyin is h ò UL á ij ū sh à ng, which means that the later surpasses the former and is used to praise the rising star surpassing the former. It comes from the biography of Ji Zheng in historical records.

The origin of Idioms

In the biography of Ji Zheng in historical records, it is said that "Your Majesty uses many officials, such as Ji Xin Er, and the later ones are the best."

Analysis of Idioms

[synonym] young than blue [antonym] generation is worse than generation

Idiom usage

The latter is better than the former. I'm old now. I don't know who I am when I'm not ready for my youth's wine and literature meeting? Notes of Yuewei thatched cottage (Volume 24) by Ji Yun in Qing Dynasty

Idiom story

Tracing back to the biography of Ji Zheng in historical records: Ji'an said to Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty: "Your Majesty uses his ministers like Ji Xin Er, and the later ones are the best." During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, there were three famous ministers in the court, named Ji'an, Gong Sunhong and Zhang Tang. Although these three men were ministers under Emperor Hanwu at the same time, their situation was very different. When Ji'an came to work in Beijing, he was already very senior and had a very high official position. At that time, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were just small officials with very low positions. However, due to their proper conduct and outstanding achievements, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were promoted step by step until Gongsun Hong was granted the title of marquis and worshipped as prime minister, and Zhang Tang was promoted to the rank of imperial censor doctor. Ji'an used to be inferior to Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang in employment, but he was biased and narrow-minded. Seeing that the two little officials who used to be far below him were already in high positions, he was very unconvinced and always wanted to find a chance to comment on this with the emperor. One day after the separation of the court, the ministers of culture and military retreated one after another. Emperor Hanwu walked slowly out of the palace and was walking towards the flower path leading to the imperial garden. Ji'an hastened to step forward and said to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, "Your Majesty, I have something to say to you. Are you interested?" Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty turned back and stopped, saying, "I don't know what it is. Let's talk about it." Ji'an said, "emperor, have you ever seen farmers pile up firewood? They always put the first firewood on the bottom, and the last firewood on the top. Don't you think the first firewood is too wronged? " Han Wudi looked at Ji'an puzzled and said, "what do you mean by that?" Ji'an said, "you see, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang are all behind me in terms of seniority, but now they come from behind one by one, and their positions are much higher than mine. Aren't you the same as the farmer who piled up firewood, your majesty?" In a few words, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very unhappy. He felt that it was unreasonable for Ji'an to look at the problem in such a simple and one-sided way. He wanted to denounce Ji'an, but he thought that Ji'an was an old minister, so he had to hold down his anger and leave without saying anything. After that, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty ignored Ji'an even more, and his official position had to stand still. the later is the development law of objective things, which depends on which angle we look at the problem from. Ji'an believes that it is not advisable to promote talents on the basis of seniority and to oppose catching up from behind.

Chinese PinYin : hòu lái jū shàng