Harming yourself through your own actions—usually when trying to harm someone else. The scheme backfires and the schemer suffers the consequences.
This saying is a cautionary tale about the dangers of malicious intent. It reflects the Chinese belief in cosmic justice—that evil designs ultimately harm the designer.
This saying serves as a moral warning and a form of social commentary. It signals that Chinese culture values integrity and warns that cunning without conscience is self-destructive—a lesson reinforced through vivid, physical imagery.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
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