只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈 zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ ， bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng

only the official is allowed to light the fire

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. only the official is allowed to light the fire
  2. 2. Gods may do what cattle may not
  3. 3. quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

Characters

Character Meaning
只 zhǐ HSK 3
only; just; merely
許 xǔ
to allow; to permit; to promise
州 zhōu HSK 6
state (e.g. of US); prefecture
官 guān HSK 5
official; government official; governmental
放 fàng HSK 3
to put; to place; to release
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
許 xǔ
to allow; to permit; to promise
百 bǎi HSK 2
hundred; numerous; all kinds of
姓 xìng HSK 2
surname; family name; to be surnamed
點 diǎn
o'clock; to order (food in a restaurant); point
燈 dēng
light; lamp; lantern