The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

明知山有虎，偏向虎山行

míng zhī shān yǒu hǔ , piān xiàng hǔ shān xíngdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. to willfully go towards the mountain although knowing that it has tigers (idiom) / fig. to take a risk despite knowing the dangers
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-f4e0c394c5649fae. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

明知山有虎，偏向虎山行 明知山有虎，偏向虎山行 [ming2 zhi1 shan1 you3 hu3 , pian1 xiang4 hu3 shan1 xing2] /lit. to willfully go towards the mountain although knowing that it has tigers (idiom)/fig. to take a risk despite knowing the dangers/

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.

  • 明
    míng

    bright / opposite: dark 暗[àn] / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods

    Míng

    Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yán dì] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shén nóng] Farmer God

  • 知
    zhī

    to know / to be aware

  • 山
    shān

    mountain / hill (CL:座[zuò]) / (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on

    Shān

    surname Shan

  • 有
    yǒu

    to have / there is / (bound form) having / with / -ful / -ed / -al (as in 有意[yǒu yì] intentional)

  • 虎
    hǔ

    tiger / CL:隻|只[zhī]

  • 偏
    piān

    to lean / to slant / oblique / prejudiced / to deviate from average / to stray from the intended line / stubbornly / contrary to expectations

  • 向
    xiàng

    towards / to face / to turn towards / direction / to support / to side with / shortly before / formerly / always / all along / (suffix) suitable for ... / oriented to ... / to tend toward / to guide / orientation / to turn toward / to

    Xiàng

    surname Xiang

  • 虎
    hǔ

    tiger / CL:隻|只[zhī]

  • 山
    shān

    mountain / hill (CL:座[zuò]) / (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on

    Shān

    surname Shan

  • 行
    háng

    (bound form) row / line / (bound form) line of business / trade / profession / (bound form) commercial firm / (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age) / (in data tables) row / (Tw) column / classifier for rows or lines

    héng

    used in 道行[dào héng]

    xíng

    (bound form) to walk / to go / to travel / (literary) trip / journey / visit / (bound form) temporary / makeshift / (bound form) current / in circulation / (bound form) to do / to perform / capable / competent / all right / OK! / will do / behavior / conduct (Taiwan pr. [xìng]) / (literary) about to / soon

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.