項莊舞劍 xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] (idiom, refers to plot to kill Liu Bang during Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[Hong2 men2 Yan4] in 206 BC)
  2. fig. an elaborate deception hiding malicious intent

CHARACTERS

項 xiàng neck, nape of neck; sum; funds
莊 zhuāng village, hamlet; villa; surname
舞 wǔ
HSK 2
dance, posture, prance; brandish
劍 jiàn sword, dagger, saber