以子之矛，攻子之盾 in English yi3 zi3 zhi1 mao2 , gong1 zi3 zhi1 dun4 Meaning

Meanings

• literally (word for word) use somebody's spear to attack his shield (idiomatic expression, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner
• metaphorically to attack an opponent using his own devices
• hoist with his own petard

Pinyin

yi3 zi3 zhi1 mao2 , gong1 zi3 zhi1 dun4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

以yi3old variant of 以[yi3] 子zi5son 之zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) 矛mao2spear ， 攻gong1to attack 子zi5son 之zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) 盾dun4shield