揭竿而起 (jiē gān ér qǐ) — to start a rebellion, to rise up in revolt

Definition

A vivid chengyu for a sudden popular uprising — literally 'raise the pole and rise,' evoking peasants grabbing any weapon at hand. Used in formal/historical writing to describe armed revolt, not peaceful protest.

verb
to start a rebellionto rise up in revolt

Examples

  • ，揭竿而起。
    Nóng mín bù kān yā pò, fēn fēn jiē gān ér qǐ.
    The peasants, unable to bear the oppression, rose up in rebellion one after another.
  • 揭竿而起。
    Lì shǐ shàng duō cì jiē gān ér qǐ de qǐ yì dōu gǎi biàn le zhèng quán gé jú.
    Many historical uprisings that started rebellions have changed the political landscape.
  • ，揭竿而起，。
    Tā men rěn wú kě rěn, zuì zhōng jiē gān ér qǐ, fǎn kàng bào zhèng.
    They could no longer tolerate it and finally rose in revolt against the tyranny.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān竿gān
Same sound today

竿 uses 竹, bamboo, to mark the material, with 干 giving the sound.

Open 竿 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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