你就想要鸟尽弓藏
“So, you want to discard me”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
如今四海稍安
“Now, the nation is peaceful.”
你 就想 要 鸟尽弓藏
“So, you want to discard me”
苛待老臣了吗
“once your purpose is served?”
“You are betraying the very people who brought you to power now that you no longer need us.”
A recurring theme in Chinese imperial history where founding rulers eliminated powerful generals and ministers to consolidate dynastic control after military victory.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
cast aside the bow once the birds are gone; discard loyal helpers once their purpose is served
A classic four-character idiom (chengyu) used to criticize an ungrateful leader who turns on key allies after achieving success.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“What did the Right Army say? They said that since they abandoned us after getting what they wanted,”
“that we might be cast aside once we've served our purpose?”
“(before I get to enjoy all the wealth and glory.)”
“You're killing the hounds once the hare is caught!”
“The bow is put away when the birds are all gone.”
“However, they would burn bridges in the end.”