杯酒釋兵權 bēi jiǔ shì bīng quán

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

杯 bēi
HSK 1
cup, glass
酒 jiǔ
HSK 3
wine, spirits, liquor, alcoholic beverage
釋 shì interprete, elucidate; release
兵 bīng
HSK 5
soldier, troops
權 quán power, right, authority