杯酒释兵权 bēi jiǔ shì bīng quán

to dismiss military hierarchy using wine cups

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to dismiss military hierarchy using wine cups
  2. 2. cf Song founding Emperor Song Taizu 宋太祖sòng tài zǔ holds a banquet in 961 and persuades his senior army commanders to go home to their provinces

Characters

Character Meaning
杯 bēi HSK 1
cup; trophy cup
酒 jiǔ HSK 3
alcoholic beverage; liquor; wine (esp. rice wine)
释 shì HSK 4
to explain; Buddhism; to release
兵 bīng HSK 5
soldiers; military; weapons
权 quán HSK 5
authority; power; right