引而不发

引而不發
yǐnérbùfā
  1. to pull the bow without shooting (idiom from Mencius); ready and waiting for action
  2. to go through the motions
  3. to practice
  4. a trial run

CEDICT

拉开弓弦而不射箭。语出《孟子．尽心上》：「君子引而不发，跃如也。」后用以比喻善于启发诱导，使其跟从学习，或准备妥当，伺机而行动。明．焦竑《玉堂丛语．卷一．文学》：「李西涯问康斋以『下学上达』之义。康斋曰：『未论上达之妙，且言下学。』其言引而不发，至言也。」清．薛福成〈论俄罗斯立国之势〉：「沉机观变，引而不发。」

重編國語辭典

Homographs

引而不发 yǐn'érbùfā

Entry Composition

1 引 yǐn
  1. to draw (e.g. a bow)
  2. to pull
  3. to stretch sth
  4. to extend
  5. to lengthen
  6. to involve or implicate in
  7. to attract
  8. to lead
  9. to guide
  10. to leave
  11. to provide evidence or justification for
  12. old unit of distance equal to 10 丈 zhàng, one-thirtieth of a km or 33.33 meters
2 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
3 不 bù
  1. no; not so
  2. (bound form) not; un-
4 发 fā
  1. to send out
  2. to show (one's feeling)
  3. to issue
  4. to develop
  5. to make a bundle of money
  6. classifier for gunshots (rounds)

Related entries

虚应故事 xūyìnggùshì to go through the motions
走过场 zǒuguòchǎng to go through the motions
糊弄 hùnong
  1. to fool
  2. to deceive
  3. to go through the motions
胡弄 húnong
  1. to fool
  2. to deceive
  3. to go through the motions
过场 guòchǎng
  1. interlude
  2. to cross the stage
  3. to do sth as a mere formality
  4. to go through the motions
View more