围魏救赵 wéi wèi jiù zhào

save ally by attacking enemy's base

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers
  2. 2. lit. to besiege 魏wèi and rescue 赵zhào (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
围 wéi HSK 4
to surround; to encircle; all around
魏 wèi
surname Wei; the Wei dynasty 221-265
救 jiù HSK 5
to save; to rescue; to assist
赵 zhào
surname Zhao