引而不發

引而不发
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

拉開弓弦而不射箭。語出《孟子．盡心上》：「君子引而不發，躍如也。」後用以比喻善於啟發誘導，使其跟從學習，或準備妥當，伺機而行動。明．焦竑《玉堂叢語．卷一．文學》：「李西涯問康齋以『下學上達』之義。康齋曰：『未論上達之妙，且言下學。』其言引而不發，至言也。」清．薛福成〈論俄羅斯立國之勢〉：「沈機觀變，引而不發。」

重編國語辭典

Homographs

引而不發 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 發 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

虛應故事 xūyìnggùshì to go through the motions
走過場 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
過場 guòchǎng
  1. interlude
  2. to cross the stage
  3. to do sth as a mere formality
  4. to go through the motions
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