🦊 狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi – A Fox Using a Tiger’s Power

🔍 What It Means

狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) literally means “a fox uses a tiger’s power.”

Word-for-word:

• 狐 (hú) – fox

• 假 (jiǎ) – to borrow / to fake / to use

• 虎 (hǔ) – tiger

• 威 (wēi) – power / authority

It describes someone who uses another person’s power to scare others — they’re not strong themselves, but they look powerful because of who’s behind them.

In English, you might say:

• 🐯 “Borrowing someone’s power”

• 🦊 “All bark, no bite — but backed by someone big”

🏺 Where It Comes From

This idiom comes from an ancient Chinese fable:

A tiger caught a fox and was about to eat him.

But the fox said,

“I was sent by the emperor of heaven! If you eat me, you’ll be punished.”

“If you don’t believe me, walk behind me through the forest.”

The tiger agreed.

As they walked, all the animals ran away in fear.

The tiger was amazed — but didn’t realize…

🐯 They were afraid of him, not the fox.

So the fox survived — by borrowing the tiger’s power.

💬 How to Use It

Use 狐假虎威 to describe someone who seems powerful, but only because of who they’re relying on — not their own strength.

• ❌ It’s negative — often used to criticize fake power.

• 🗣 Common in business, politics, or social situations.

🎯 Real Examples

1. 他仗着老板的权力，对同事大吼大叫，简直是狐假虎威。

• Tā zhàngzhe lǎobǎn de quánlì, duì tóngshì dà hǒu dà jiào, jiǎnzhí shì hújiǎhǔwēi.

• 👉🏼 He yells at coworkers by relying on the boss’s power — that’s totally using borrowed authority.

2. 有些人表面很强，其实只是狐假虎威。

• Yǒuxiē rén biǎomiàn hěn qiáng, qíshí zhǐshì hújiǎhǔwēi.

• 👉🏼 Some people seem strong on the surface, but they’re just pretending — using others’ power to look tough.

⚠️ Common Mistakes (Watch Out!)

• ❌ Mistake: Thinking the fox was actually powerful.

• ✅ Correct: The fox was clever, but had no real power — the fear came from the tiger.

This idiom warns us to see who really holds the power.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine a fox walking confidently in front of a tiger, acting like a king.

🦊 But behind him… is the real muscle.

That’s 狐假虎威 — fake power with a powerful shadow.

✍🏻 Interactive Practice

Translate this sentence into English:

• 他总是借上司的名义发号施令，有点像狐假虎威。

Answer:

• He always gives orders in his boss’s name — it’s kind of like using borrowed power.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Sometimes, people look powerful…

But 狐假虎威 teaches us to look behind the scenes.

• Who’s really in charge?

• Who’s truly strong — and who’s just pretending?

🦊 Don’t be fooled by loud voices or big attitudes.

They might just be... walking in front of a tiger.

👉 Stay tuned for the next idiom in this series!