指桑骂槐 in English zhi3 sang1 ma4 huai2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to point at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree
  • metaphorically to scold somebody indirectly
  • to make oblique accusations (idiomatic expression)

Simplified Characters

指 桑 骂 槐

Traditional Characters

指 桑 罵 槐

Pinyin

zhi3 sang1 ma4 huai2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

指zhi3finger 桑sang1surname Sang 骂ma4to scold 槐huai2Chinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica)