諺語 · a single proverb
如狼似虎
What does 如狼似虎 (rú láng sì hǔ) mean?
如狼似虎 (rú láng sì hǔ) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "fierce as wolves and tigers." In use it means: Acting with relentless, predatory intensity; the kind of concentrated aggression that overwhelms opposition. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Literally: "fierce as wolves and tigers."
The reading
They did not negotiate. They did not hesitate. They moved with the focused intensity of predators who have already decided on the outcome. This is not admirable in every context, but it is effective in the ones where speed and decisiveness are the only currencies that matter.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common military and competitive expression; historical texts
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 如狼似虎 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 如狼似虎 (rú láng sì hǔ) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common military and competitive expression; historical texts. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 如狼似虎?
In Mandarin it is rú láng sì hǔ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 如狼似虎 aloud in Mandarin.