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功高盖主

gōng gāo gài zhǔdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. one's accomplishments overshadow the authority of the sovereign (idiom) / fig. to be so influential that one rivals one's leader
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-05125dfe846cc168. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

功高蓋主 功高盖主 [gong1 gao1 gai4 zhu3] /lit. one's accomplishments overshadow the authority of the sovereign (idiom)/fig. to be so influential that one rivals one's leader/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 功高蓋主

  • 功
    gōng

    meritorious deed or service / achievement / result / service / accomplishment / work (physics)

  • 高
    gāo

    high / tall / above average / loud / your (honorific)

    Gāo

    surname Gao

  • 盖
    gài

    lid / top / cover / canopy / to cover / to conceal / to build

    Gě

    surname Ge

  • 主
    zhǔ

    owner / master / host / individual or party concerned / God / Lord / main / to indicate or signify / trump card (in card games)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.