弦而鼓之 xián ér gǔ zhī

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to tune one's zither then play it; fig. to live by the consequences of one's actions
  2. to make one's bed then lie on it

CHARACTERS

弦 xián
HSK 6
string; hypotenuse, crescent
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
鼓 gǔ
HSK 4
drum; beat, top, strike
之 zhī
HSK 4
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to