养虎伤身 yǎng hǔ shāng shēn

harbor danger that will hurt you later

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. Rear a tiger and court disaster. (idiom); fig. if you're too lenient with sb, he will damage you later
  2. 2. to cherish a snake in one's bosom

Characters

Character Meaning
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
tiger
to injure; injury; wound
body; oneself; personally