养虎遗患 yǎng hǔ yí huàn

nurture a threat that later harms you

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
养 yǎng HSK 4
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
虎 hǔ HSK 4
tiger
遗 yí HSK 5
to leave behind; to lose; to omit
患 huàn HSK 6
to suffer (from illness); to contract (a disease); worry