项庄舞剑，意在沛公 in English Xiang4 Zhuang1 wu3 jian4 , yi4 zai4 Pei4 gong1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] (idiomatic expression); refers to 206 BC (Before Christ) plot to murder Liu Bang, aka Duke of Pei 沛公[Pei4 gong1] and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at the Hongmen feast 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[Hong2 men2 yan4]
  • an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent

Simplified Characters

项 庄 舞 剑 ， 意 在 沛 公

Traditional Characters

項 莊 舞 劍 ， 意 在 沛 公

Pinyin

Xiang4 Zhuang1 wu3 jian4 , yi4 zai4 Pei4 gong1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

项xiang4surname Xiang 庄zhuang1variant of 莊|庄[zhuang1] 舞wu3to dance 剑jian4double-edged sword ， 意yi4Italy 在zai4(located) at 沛pei4copious 公gong1public