挟天子以令天下 xié tiān zǐ yǐ lìng tiān xià

DEFINITIONS

  1. (expr.) hold the feudal overlord and you control the whole country

CHARACTERS

挟 xié clasp under arm; hold to bosom
天 tiān
HSK 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial
子 zǐ
HSK 1
offspring, child; fruit, seed of; 1st terrestrial branch
以 yǐ
HSK 2
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
令 lìng
HSK 5
command, order; 'commandant', magistrate; allow, cause
天 tiān
HSK 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial
下 xià
HSK 1
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down