九世之仇

Chinese

		nine	life; age; generation life; age; generation; era; world; lifetime	's; him/her/it; this	surname; match; mate surname; match; mate; hatred; animosity; enmity; a rival; an enemy; feud
simp. and trad. (九世之仇)		九	世	之	仇

Etymology

From the story of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty:

Duke Ai of Qi had a dispute with his neighbouring state Ji (紀). King Yi of Zhou sided with Marquis of Ji and executed Duke Ai. Later, Duke Xiang of Qi, the ninth-generation descendant of Duke Ai, conquered the State of Ji to revenge for him.

遠祖者，幾世乎？九世矣。九世猶可以復讎乎？雖百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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远祖者，几世乎？九世矣。九世犹可以复雠乎？虽百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 《春秋公羊傳·莊公四年》 (Gongyang Zhuan)

Yuǎnzǔ zhě, jǐ shì hū? Jiǔ shì yǐ. Jiǔ shì yóu kěyǐ fùchóu hū? Suī bǎishì kě yě. [Pinyin]

Can the ninth generation descendant revenge (for his ancestor)? Even the hundredth descendant can (do it).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): jiǔshìzhīchóu

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄔㄡˊ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jiǔshìzhīchóu
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄔㄡˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jiǒushìhjhihchóu
    • Wade–Giles: chiu³-shih⁴-chih¹-chʻou²
    • Yale: jyǒu-shr̀-jr̄-chóu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jeoushyhjychour
    • Palladius: цзюшичжичоу (czjušičžičou)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

Idiom

九世之仇

1. irreconcilable resentments (from generations of hatred since the remote past)